Revision hip arthroplasty for severe acetabular deficiency is a technically challenging operation. Many different methods have been described for the management of acetabular deficiency. These include augmentation with bone cement, structural allografts, impaction grafting, support rings with graft and reconstruction with a high centre of rotation. The long term results of many of these methods were variable.

We reviewed the outcome of a stemmed acetabular cup (McMinn cup, Link UK) used with morsellised bone graft for revision hip arthroplasty with severe acetabular deficiency. The implant was used only in the most severe cases of acetabular deficiency where it was impossible to achieve stable fixation using simpler methods. This device was used in only 13 out of 265 revision arthroplasties performed by the senior author.

Between 1995 and 2002 13 acetabulae were reconstructed using a stemmed acetabular cup and non-structural morsellised bone graft. All were revision procedures with the number of previous operations on the same hip ranging between 1 and 4. 2 patients died from causes not related to surgery. 1 hip was revised for persistent discharge although no organisms were identified on repeated cultures. The mean follow-up of the remaining 10 hips was 72 months (range 46 – 108 months)

All patients were satisfied with the results and their function improved significantly post-operatively. 8 of the 10 people report no pain from the hip and 2 reported slight or occasional pain which did not interfere with their activities at last follow-up. The mean Harris Hip Score was 84.6 (range 70 to 99.8). Radiological assessment showed regeneration of acetabular bone stock. Some X-Rays showed proximal migration of the cup but with no evidence of loosening at last follow-up.

Acetabular reconstruction using the McMinn stemmed acetabular cup is a useful technique in revision hip arthroplasty with severe acetabular deficiency.