Introduction: Various techniques have been described for cup position in deficient acetabuli. Medialization allows an optimal cup position in the true acetabulum affording cover of the implant in the superolateral area by the bony roof and avoiding the need for a structural graft to cover the protruding lateral edge of the cup.

Materials and Methods: During the last 5 years 51 cases of cup medialization have been done during Resurfacing Replacement or THR with hard-hard bearing surfaces (mean follow up 35.2 month). 15 cases were done with the medial acetabuloplasty technique and 36 cases were done by simple over-reaming the medial wall and morselized bone grafting. The mean followed up was 16 months.

Surgical technique: Medial Acetabuloplasty: After a cartilage removal, we drill perforations in a horizontal line to weaken the central area of the medial wall. Using an impactor the medial wall is fractured and shifted medially for a few millimeters and the cavitation so produced is filled with morselized bone graft. This technique preserves a shell of bone medially which together with the graft brings about medial bony wall preservation. In extreme acetabular deficiency, this technique is also useful by minimizing the extent of morselized bone grafting needed in the superolateral area for lateral roof bone formation.

Results: The medial wall defect was consistently reformed during the first year. In neither the over-reaming with morselized bone graft nor in the group using the medial acetabuloplasty was the stability of the cup compromised.

Conclusion: The lateral structural graft techniques are more cumbersome, take more time and the results are less certain.

In the short term there was no difference in hip scores or in the radiological assessment between medialization with or without acetabuloplasty. We suggest this technique seems to have the potential for very good long term results.

Introduction: Conventional total hip replacement has a high rate of failure in young or high demand patients due to polyethylene wear, therefore, we perform a metal on metal hip resurfacing in these patients. Materials and Methods: The cup is all chrome cobalt alloy, with HA coating and the beads of the porous ingrowth surface are integrated with the substrate metal. The metal head is þxed with low viscosity cement, after careful precise preparation of femoral head.33 hybrid hip resurfacing in 29 patients. Average age was 42.8 years. Results: Harris Hip Score: 34.2 points average preoperatively and 97.1 points at the last examination. The average follow-up was 14.7 month. Discussion: The advantages: Minimal bone resection which makes for easier future revision, normal proximal femoral loading that hence avoidance of the stress shielding present in standard hip replacements, less risk of dislocation with greater range of motion, the physiological biomechanics of the joint is maintained, proprioception is maintained and we have noted that the postoperative recovery is extremely smooth and quick.

The disadvantages: Leg length and neck version cannot be altered. Hip resurfacing is, technically, a demanding procedure.

Contraindications: osteoporosis, varus neck.

Conclusions: Our early results are encouraging. We believe that metal on metal hybrid resurfacing is a legitimate alternative for active patients who require hip arthroplasty.

We have reviewed 11 patients with idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip; the six who were women all developed the condition during pregnancy. Both simultaneous and sequential bilateral involvement were seen, but biochemical studies were consistently normal and one synovial biopsy showed only non-specific inflammation. Radioisotope bone scans and CT scans were useful to aid diagnosis. Treatment by limiting weight-bearing relieved symptoms, and spontaneous resolution was paralleled by radiographic remineralisation, usually within a few months. One patient developed a stress fracture of the hip and other areas of transient osteoporosis. A hip involved by the condition should be protected from overloading until bone density has recovered.

Magnetic resonance images (MRI) were obtained of 10 healthy volunteers and 70 patients suffering from various orthopaedic disorders. Selected images of soft tissue, joint, bone and spinal abnormalities are presented and their interpretation is described. Although we have been using MRI for only a very short time, it is already possible to see its advantages: it provides good images of soft-tissues, detailed pictures of bone marrow, and excellent visualisation of the spine and spinal cord. The decision-making process in surgical procedures will in the future be influenced by this technique.