We report a series of sixteen total hip arthroplasties utilizing a porous tantalum trabecular metal acetabular component in patients with tumors of the hip.

The study included eight men and eight women with an average age of 59.3 (range 22–80 years). Two patients had benign but locally recurrent disease destructive of bone (Langerhan’s Cell Histiocytosis and Rosi Dorfman Disease), while fourteen had malignant lesions. The latter included six myeloma, two lymphoma, and six metastatic carcinoma (three breast, one prostate, one lung, and one unknown site). Fifteen patients had prior radiation therapy. The technique used was determined by the extent of the lesion and the quality of remaining host bone.

In eight patients major deficiencies necessitated augmentation of the porous tantalum cup with an anti-protrusio device “over -the top” a cup-cage construct. Porous tantalum augments were utilised with the cup to fill defects in the acetabulum in seven patients. Postoperative complications were seen in four cases (DVT, DIC, pneumonia, and one death from c. difficile colitis).

Postoperatively, the majority of the patients had excellent pain relief and improved ambulatory status. No clinical failures have been observed at follow-up (mean 12.5 months, range twenty days-twenty-eight months). There have been no re-operations. Radiographically, no migration or evidence of implant loosening has been observed.