Polyethylene liner dissociation with the Harris-Galante II acetabular component

Dissociation of the polyethylene liner from its metal shell has been reported as a rare occurrence. During a 4-year period, six hips in five patients who had the Harris-Galante II porous acetabular component implanted as part of a primary or revision total hip arthroplasty presented with acute onset of pain and difficulty ambulating more than 2 years after surgery (range, 27-103 months). Radiographic evaluation revealed an eccentrically placed femoral head within the acetabular component. In patients whose acetabular shells were well-fixed, a polyethylene liner was cemented into the acetabular shell (four hips in three patients), and in one patient (one hip), the acetabular component was revised because of fracture of the metal shell. One patient who had a radiographically well-fixed component refused surgery (one hip). During a 4-year period, from 1990 to 1994, this implant was used resulting in a 2.6% incidence of dissociation. This case series is the largest of this complication for one prosthetic design.