Late disassembly of a modular acetabular component. A case report

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Device Engineering

Background:

• Metal-backed acetabular components are widely used in total hip arthroplasty.
• Disassembly, a known complication, typically presents with femoral component dislocation or radiographic signs.
• Both preassembled and modular designs are susceptible to this failure mode.

Observation:

• A rare case of late acetabular component disassembly is presented.
• This specific instance occurred without femoral component dislocation.
• No radiographic evidence indicated dissociation prior to the event.

Findings:

• The study highlights a previously underreported presentation of acetabular component disassembly.
• Late-onset pain following total hip arthroplasty may be indicative of this complication.
• This emphasizes the need for thorough differential diagnosis in such cases.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider acetabular component disassembly in the differential diagnosis of late-onset hip pain.
• This complication warrants consideration alongside infection and aseptic loosening.
• Further research may be needed to understand the mechanisms and prevalence of silent disassembly.