Modular un-cemented acetabular components are used in over 50% of UK hip replacements. Mal-seating of hard liners has been reported as a cause of failure which may be a result of errors in assembly, but also could be affected by deformation of the acetabular shell on insertion. Little information exists on in vivo shell deformation. Previous work has confirmed the importance of shell diameter and thickness upon shell behaviour, but mostly using single measurements in models or cold cadavers.

Exploration of deformation and its relaxation over the first twenty minutes after implantation of eight generic metal cups at body temperature.

Using a previously validated cadaveric model at controlled physiological temperature with standardised surgical technique, we tested the null hypothesis that there was no consistency for time dependent or directional change in deformation for a standard metal shell inserted under controlled conditions into the hip joint. Eight custom made titanium alloy (TiAl6V4) cups were implanted into 4 cadavers (8 hips). Time dependent cup deformation was determined using the previously validated ATOS Triple Scan III (ATOS) optical measurement system. The pattern of change in the shape of the surgically implanted cup was measured at 3 time points after insertion.

We found consistency for quantitative and directional deformation of the shells. There was consistency for relaxation of the deformation with time. Immediate mean change in cup radius was 104μm (sd 32, range 67–153) relaxing to mean 96 μm (sd 32, range 63–150) after 10 minutes and mean 92 μm (sd 28, range 66–138) after 20 minutes.

This work shows the time dependent deformation and relaxation of acetabular titanium shells and may aid determining the optimal time for insertion of the inner liner at surgery.