Acetabular reconstruction with bone impaction grafting and a cemented cup: 20 years' experience

Acetabular bone stock loss compromises the outcome in primary and revision total hip arthroplasty. In 1979, a biologic method was introduced with tightly impacted cancellous allografts in combination with a cemented polyethylene cup for acetabular reconstruction. With this technique, it is possible to replace the loss of bone and to repair normal hip mechanics and hip function with a standard implant. Based on the authors' 20 years experience, a review of the long-term data is presented in primary total hip arthroplasty with preexisting acetabular bone stock loss, primary total hip arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis, patients who had bone impaction when younger than 50 years, and in acetabular revisions. The survival rate with revision of the cup for aseptic loosening as the end point was 94% at 10 to 17 years, 90% at 10 to 18 years, 91% at 10 to 17 years, and 92% at 10 to 15 years. From biopsy specimens from humans and histologic data in animal experiments the incorporation of these impacted bone chips was proven. The acetabular bone impaction technique using large morselized bone chips (range, 0.7-1 cm) and a cemented cup is a reliable technique with favorable long-term outcome.