Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological results of patients who were revised using a custom-made triflange acetabular component (CTAC) for component loosening and pelvic discontinuity (PD) after previous total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Pelvic discontinuity (PD) is a detrimental complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological results of patients with PD who were revised using a custom-made triflange acetabular component (CTAC).

This is a single centre prospective study of patients with PD following THA who were treated with a CTAC. The Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), modified Oxford Hip Score (mOHS), EurQol five-dimension three-level (EQ-5D-3L) utility, and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), including visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, were gathered at baseline, and at one- and two-year follow-up. Clinical and radiological complications, including reasons for revisions were registered. Trends over time are described and tested for significance and clinical relevance.

18 females with 22 CTACs were included with a mean age of 73.5 years (SD 7.7). There were significant improvements between baseline and final follow-up in HOOS (p<0.01), mOHS (p<0.01), EQ-5D-3L utility (p<0.01), EQ-5D-3L NRS (p<0.01), VAS pain rest (p<0.01), and VAS pain activity (p<0.01). A minimal clinically important improvement in mOHS and the HOOS was observed in 16 patients (73%) and 14 patients (64%), respectively. Definite healing of the PD was observed in 19 hips (86%). Complications included six cases with broken screws (27%), four cases (18%) with bony fractures, and one case (4.5%) with sciatic nerve paresthesia. One patient with concurrent bilateral PD had revision surgery due to recurrent dislocations. No revision surgery was performed for screw failure or implant breakage.

This is the first prospective assessment in clinical outcome of patients with PD who were treated with a CTAC. We have demonstrated that CTAC in patients with THA acetabular loosening and PD can result in stable constructs with no mechanical failures. Moreover, clinically relevant improvements in health-related quality of life at two years’ follow-up was observed.

The use of ilioischial cage reconstruction for pelvic discontinuity has been replaced by the Trabecular Metal (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana) cup-cage technique in our institution, due to the unsatisfactory outcome of using a cage alone in this situation. We report the outcome of 26 pelvic discontinuities in 24 patients (20 women and four men, mean age 65 years (44 to 84)) treated by the cup-cage technique at a mean follow-up of 82 months (12 to 113) and compared them with a series of 19 pelvic discontinuities in 19 patients (18 women and one man, mean age 70 years (42 to 86)) treated with a cage at a mean follow-up of 69 months (1 to 170). The clinical and radiological outcomes as well as the survivorship of the groups were compared. In all, four of the cup-cage group (15%) and 13 (68%) of the cage group failed due to septic or aseptic loosening. The seven-year survivorship was 87.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 71 to 103) for the cup-cage group and 49.9% (95% CI 15 to 84) for the cage-alone group (p = 0.009). There were four major complications in the cup-cage group and nine in the cage group. Radiological union of the discontinuity was found in all successful cases in the cup-cage group and three of the successful cage cases. Three hips in the cup-cage group developed early radiological migration of the components, which stabilised with a successful outcome.

Cup-cage reconstruction is a reliable technique for treating pelvic discontinuity in mid-term follow-up and is preferred to ilioischial cage reconstruction. If the continuity of the bone graft at the discontinuity site is not disrupted, early migration of the components does not necessarily result in failure.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:195–200.

In this retrospective study we evaluated the proficiency of shelf autograft in the restoration of bone stock as part of primary total hip replacement (THR) for hip dysplasia, and in the results of revision arthroplasty after failure of the primary arthroplasty. Of 146 dysplastic hips treated by THR and a shelf graft, 43 were revised at an average of 156 months, 34 of which were suitable for this study (seven hips were excluded because of insufficient bone-stock data and two hips were excluded because allograft was used in the primary THR). The acetabular bone stock of the hips was assessed during revision surgery. The mean implant–bone contact was 58% (50% to 70%) at primary THR and 78% (40% to 100%) at the time of the revision, which was a significant improvement (p < 0.001). At primary THR all hips had had a segmental acetabular defect > 30%, whereas only five (15%) had significant segmental bone defects requiring structural support at the time of revision. In 15 hips (44%) no bone graft or metal augments were used during revision.

A total of 30 hips were eligible for the survival study. At a mean follow-up of 103 months (27 to 228), two aseptic and two septic failures had occurred. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the revision procedures demonstrated a ten-year survival rate of 93.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 78 to 107) with clinical or radiological failure as the endpoint. The mean Oxford hip score was 38.7 (26 to 46) for non-revised cases at final follow-up.

Our results indicate that the use of shelf autografts during THR for dysplastic hips restores bone stock, contributing to the favourable survival of the revision arthroplasty should the primary procedure fail.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:777–81.

Introduction. Acetabular revision surgery is becoming more prevalent with an estimated increase of 137% by 2030. It is challenging surgery especially in the presence of deficient bone loss. Several techniques of acetabular reconstruction are used world-wide. The greater the bone loss (Paprosky Type IIIA and IIIB, and AAOS Classification of Acetabular Bone Loss Type 3 and 4) the more complex are the reconstruction methods. There is however, insufficient literature comparing the contemporary techniques of revision acetabular reconstruction and their outcomes. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature and to report clinical outcomes and survival of contemporary acetabular revision arthroplasty techniques (tantalum metal (TM) systems, uncemented revision jumbo cups, reinforced devices such as cages and rings, oblong cups and custom-made triflange cups). We specifically looked at outcomes when reconstruction was undertaken in the presence of bone loss. Methods. Full-text papers and those with an abstract in English published from January 2001 to October 2015, identified through international databases, Medline (PubMED), EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science, Cochrane and Google scholar databases, were reviewed. Studies reporting failure and complications following the use of tantalum metal systems, uncemented revision jumbo cups, reinforced devices as cages and rings, oblong cups and custom-made triflange cups, were included. Functional and radiological outcomes were also evaluated. Results. A total of 50 papers of level IV scientific evidence, comprising 2811 hips in total, fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included. 1021 hips (291 of them classified Paprosky Type 3A, 98 3B and 14 AAOS type 3 and 2 type 4) with a mean follow-up 48.9 months, used TM cups with a mean overall re-revisions rate of 7.3%. 831 hips (156 of them classified Paprosky Type 3A, 178 3B and 228 AAOS type 3 and 43 type 4) with a mean follow-up 87.5 months, were reconstructed using cages and rings devices; these had a mean re-operation rate of 11.0%. 203 hips (44 of them classified Paprosky Type 3A and 8 3B) with a mean follow-up 90.9 months, were reconstructed using oblong cups and were associated with a mean of re-operate rate of 5.9%. In 518 hips (86 of them classified Paprosky Type 3A, 29 3B and 114 AAOS type 3 and 2 type 4) with a mean follow-up 117.4 months, jumbo cups were implanted and revision rate was 12.1%. Custom-made triflange cups were used in 238 hips (3 of them classified Paprosky Type 3A, 64 3B and 42 AAOS type 3 and 139 type 4) with a mean follow-up 57.9 months, and they were re-roperated in 16.8% of cases. Overall patients had improved post-operative hip scores for each different procedure. We have observed that oblong cups components had a lower failure rate compared with other different materials considered in this review. Custom-made triflange cups had one of higher failure rate, however they had been used in the most complex cases. It is possible that other designs had more favourable outcomes having been used in less demanding patients. Conclusions. This review confirms successful acetabular reconstructions using several techniques and highlights key features and outcomes of different techniques. In particular oblong and TM cups have proven long-term survivorship and our results strongly suggest these devices as preferable choice especially in moderate to high-grade acetabular defects. For hip revisions following the development of pelvic discontinuity custom-made triflange cups have a main role, however the results are not always favourable

The in-cement technique for revision hip arthroplasty involves retaining the original cement-bone interface. This has been proven to be a biomechanically stronger method than recementing after complete removal of the original cement mantle.

This study reviewed a series of 54 consecutive revision hip arthroplasty procedures, using the in-cement technique, between November 1999 and November 2003. Clinical and radiological follow-up included functional assessment.

There were 54 procedures performed in 51 patients, whose mean age at surgery was 70.3 years (45 to 85). A total of 42 were available at a mean follow-up of 29.2 months (6 to 51). There was no radiological evidence of loosening. Functional assessments were available for 40 patients who had a mean Harris hip score of 85.2 (51.9 to 98.5), a mean Oxford hip score of 19.6 (12 to 41), a mean UCLA activity profile score of 5.9 (3 to 8) and a mean SF-36 score of 78.0 (31.6 to 100).

The in-cement technique provides consistent, high functional outcomes and should be considered in appropriately selected cases.