Abstract
Objectives
Porous metal surfaces have been a popular option for acetabular component fixation in total hip arthroplasty (THA). New THA component designs are introduced periodically with the expectation of better wear properties and survivorship. Since its approval for use in 2002 there have been few clinical outcome studies published on the Pinnacle acetabular cup system. We hypothesised that the hemispherical porous coated Pinnacle acetabular cup system with a range of cup options and bearing surfaces would give us predictably good fixation and survivorship at five years post implantation.
Materials and Methods
A total of 1391 Pinnacle acetabular cups (De Puy, a Johnson & Johnson company, Warsaw IN) were implanted between the period March 2003 to August 2011 by four senior surgeons. There were a total of 29 patients requiring revision surgery. Of these revisions, 23 were excluded from the final analysis. Sixteen were for early infection requiring debridement of the hip joint and exchange of the modular liner and femoral head. Five patients sustained femoral peri-prosthetic fractures requiring further surgery with retention of the acetabular component in all cases. Of the remaining 8 revision cases, only 6 had more than two years follow-up. All patients had pre and post-operative Harris hip scores, WOMAC and SF-12 scores. All patients were assessed with serial radiographs immediately post-operatively, 3 months, 1 year, 2 years, every 2 years thereafter. Component migration and revisions (excluding infection and peri-prosthetic fractures) are reported as failures. Post-operative radiographs were evaluated for component migration. Kaplan-Meier survivorship curves were drawn to show survivorship for cup type and bearing type.
Results
A total of 894 Pinnacle acetabular components implanted into 796 patients were available for inclusion in the final analysis. There were 358 males with an average age of 63.70 years and 438 females with an average age of 64.55 years. The average period for follow-up was 44.95 months with 133 patients having more than five years of follow-up. Only one cup showed signs of aseptic loosening and component migration on plain radiographs, this patient had previously sustained an acetabular fracture requiring open reduction and internal fixation ans subsequently developed osteoarthritis. The cup failed to adequately in-grow and migrated medially to an intra-pelvic position, this was revised to a Trabelcular Metal cup with bone grafting to the acetabulum. There were two cases revised for instability. Three revisions were performed for aseptic loosening of the femoral components which were revised with retention of the acetabular cups.
Conclusion
Published data on the performance of various porous coated cups have demonstrated varying degrees of osteolysis, however the Pinnacle cup has shown excellent midterm results postulated to be associated with the taper lock liner mechanism of the Pinnacle cups resulting in less micromotion and, therefore, reduced hydraulic pressure pumping polyethylene wear debris behind the cup. Our study confirms excellent overall survivorship of the Pinnacle acetabular porous coated cup system at a minimum of two years followup in over 790 patients.
