Minimum Five-Year Outcomes with Porous Tantalum Acetabular Cup and Augment Construct in Complex Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: The use of a trabecular metal revision shell with metal augmentation to fill segmental or irregular defects during complex revision hip arthroplasty has been shown to provide good short-term results in prior published series. Longer-term results of the several cup-augment constructs used clinically are not known. The objective of this study was to report, with minimum 5-year radiographic and clinical follow-up, the outcome of these various constructs in revision total hip arthroplasty.

Methods: Eighty-four patients (85 hips) underwent revision total hip arthroplasty with use of porous tantalum augments between 2000 and 2007 at a single institution and were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-seven of the patients (58 hips) had clinical and radiographic follow-up at a minimum of 5 years. At the time of revision, the majority of the hips had acetabular defects classified as Paprosky Type 3A (28 of 58, 48%) or Type 3B (22 of 58, 38%). Eleven (19%) of the hips also had preoperative pelvic discontinuity. All hips were assessed clinically at a minimum of 5 years with use of the Mayo hip score. Postoperative radiographs were reviewed for implant stability, the presence and location of radiolucent lines and healing of the discontinuity if present.

Results: In 2 (3%) of the 58 hips, the constructs failed because of aseptic loosening of the acetabular component and re-revision was indicated. Six (10%) of the 58 hips demonstrated a radiolucent line between the trabecular metal shell and bone in DeLee and Charnley zone 3. In 1 hip that underwent re-revision and in 5 of the 6 hips with a zone-3 radiolucency, a pelvic discontinuity was present at the time of the index revision. The mean preoperative Mayo hip score was 35.7, which improved to 61.9 at 3 months and was 61.7 at the minimum 5-year follow-up.

Conclusions: With failure defined as aseptic loosening requiring repeat revision surgery, this cohort demonstrated 97% survivorship and maintained satisfactory hip function at the minimum 5 years after the index revision surgery. Six of the 11 hips with preoperative pelvic discontinuity either failed or developed a radiolucency in zone 3 and are considered at risk for future revision. Pelvic discontinuity should prompt consideration of the addition of adjunctive fixation or the use of alternative techniques.

Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.