Highly porous tantalum cups have been used in complex acetabular revisions for nearly 20 years but reports of long term results are limited. This study was designed to report ten year results of revision using a single porous tantalum cup design with special attention to re-operation for any reason, all-cause revision, and revision for aseptic loosening.

Retrospective review of all revision THA cases performed from 1999–2006 using a highly porous tantalum acetabular component design with multiple screw holes and a cemented polyethylene liner (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN). Our institutional medical record and total joint registry were used to assess follow-up and xrays were reviewed. The Paprosky classification system was used to rate acetabular bone loss. Radiographic loosening was defined as new/progressive radiolucencies in all 3 acetabular zones, or cup migration (>2mm). Kaplan-Meier survivorship was used to assess survivorship free of cup revision/removal for any reason, and free of revision for aseptic loosening.

Between 1999 and 2006 this tantalum cup was used in 916 revisions. Mean age: 66 (±6), BMI: 29 (±6), and male: 42%. Indications for revision: aseptic loosening 346 (38%), osteolysis 240 (26%), and infected arthroplasty 168 (18%). Large (3A or 3B) bone defects were present in 260, and pelvic discontinuity in 61. Reoperation for any reason: 133 (15%), but 84 of 133 cases did not require cup revision for instability (38) or femoral failure (24). Tantalum cup removal/revision was required in 49 (5.3%) for deep infection (39) and recurrent dislocation (6), and aseptic loosening (4). 10 year survivorship free of cup revision for any reason: 95% and for aseptic loosening: 99%. Radiographic review (mean 10 years): suspicious for aseptic loosening in another 4 cups.

A highly porous tantalum acetabular component with multiple screws and a cemented polyethylene insert provided durable long term fixation for an array of acetabular revision problems. Long term aseptic loosening was very rare (<1%) and cup removal was mainly related to deep infection, and rarely dislocation.

Serum and blood cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) ion levels are used to monitor patients at risk for adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) following metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, these levels often do not correlate with the degree of local soft-tissue reaction and damage observed at the time of revision. The purpose of this study was to analyze synovial fluid metal ion concentrations in patients with a failed THA in the setting of an ARMD and determine if these levels can be more predictive of soft-tissue destruction than serum or whole blood levels.

Synovial, blood and serum samples were prospectively collected from patients undergoing revision THA with ARMD (n=29) and those undergoing aseptic revision without ARMD (n=29). There was no difference in mean age (P=0.50), BMI (P=0.18), sex distribution (P=0.18), serum creatinine (P=0.74), or time to revision THA (P=0.13) between the cohorts.

In the AMRD cohort, the components included MoM THA (n=18), hip resurfacing (n=5), dual-modular taper THA (n=4) and MoM and dual-modular taper THA (n=2). At the time of revision THA, 26 (90%) patients in the metal reaction cohort had gross evidence of metallosis in the soft-tissues, the remaining 3 (10%) had evidence of corrosion of the dual taper neck or MoM bearing. In the non ARMD cohort the bearing surfaces included metal-on-polyethylene (n=19) and ceramic-on-polyethylene (n=10). The indications for revision included isolated acetabular loosening (n=11), isolated femoral component loosening (n=11), polyethylene wear (n=5), recurrent dislocation (n=1) and combined femoral and acetabular component loosening (n=1). None had a clinical diagnosis or gross evidence of taper corrosion. Pre-revision, 21 (72%) patients in the metal reaction group had periarticular fluid collections or a mass on MRI. Mean cyst size was 202.9±71.6 cm3 and masses were grouped into Type I (cyst wall <3 mm, n=10), Type II (cyst wall ≥3 mm, n=8) and Type III (mainly solid, n=3).

At the time of revision THA, the mean Co levels were elevated in patients with ARMD compared to those without in synovial fluid (1,833 ppb vs. 12.3 ppb, P=0.008), whole blood (22.6 ppb vs 0.5 ppb, P=0.005)) and serum (19.6 vs. 0.6, P=0.001). Likewise, mean Cr levels were significantly elevated in patients with an ARMD compared to those undergoing revision without in synovial fluid (3,128 ppb vs. 10.3 ppb, P=0.01), whole blood (8.9 ppb vs. 0.5 ppb, P=0.009) and serum (14.1 ppb vs. 0.5 ppb, P=0.005). The synovial fluid Co levels were the most accurate test for detecting pseudotumor (AUC 0.951) and adverse local tissue reaction (AUC 0.826). At a synovial fluid Cr level of 110 ppb, the synovial fluid metal ion analysis was 94% sensitive and 86% specific for pseudotumor formation.

In this prospective study, synovial fluid analysis of metal ion levels was more accurate in predicting the presence and extent of pseudo-tumor or ALTR compared to blood or serum analysis. The addition of synovial aspiration with metal ion analysis may provide another helpful data point when risk stratifying these patients for need for revision THA.