Abstract
Introduction:
The management strategy regarding optimally addressing polyethylene wear with a well-fixed acetabular shell remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to document outcomes of cementation of a highly cross-linked polyethylene (PE) liner into a well-fixed acetabular metal shell in 36 hips
Materials & Methods:
We identified 37 patients (39 hips) who had undergone revision THA by cementation of a highly cross-linked PE liner into a well-fixed metal shell between June 2004 and April 2009. Of these patients, one (1 hip) died before the end of the 3-year evaluation and another was lost to follow-up. Thus, the study cohort consisted of 35 patients (36 hips). There were 23 males (24 hips) and 12 female (12 hips) patients with a mean age at time of revision surgery of 57.6 years (range, 38–79 years). All operations were performed by a single surgeon using only one type of liner. Clinical and radiographic evaluation was performed at a mean of 6.1 years (range, 3–8 years) postoperatively.
Results:
Mean Harris hip score improved from 58.1 (range, 39–81 points) preoperatively to 91.3 (range, 45–100 points) postoperatively (p < 0.001). Of the 36 hips, 29 (80.1%) had an excellent result, 6 (16.7%) a good result, and 1 (2.8%) a poor result. The patient with a poor clinical result had aseptic cup loosening with a greater trochanteric fracture at 2 years postoperatively and was treated by acetabular cup revision and internal fixation of the fracture. However, no case of PE liner dislodgement from the cement or of dissociation of the PE-cement construct from the metal shell was encountered. At last follow-up, no new osteolytic lesion was identified and previous osteolytic lesions filled with bone graft were completely or partially incorporated. Other complications included 1 incomplete peroneal nerve palsy and 1 dislocation.
Conclusions:
The results of this study and previous reports demonstrated that cementation of highly cross-linked PE liner into well-fixed metal shell could provide good midterm durability.
