A method for removing the polyethylene liner during revision total hip arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Device Engineering

Background:

• Revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) often requires removal of the acetabular shell and fixation screws.
• Polyethylene liner wear and associated osteolysis can necessitate isolated liner revision.
• Current methods for liner extraction may be complex or require specialized tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a straightforward technique for dissociating the polyethylene liner from the metal acetabular shell.
• To provide a method for liner revision that does not require specialized instruments.
• To simplify revision procedures in total hip arthroplasty.

Main Methods:

• A simple, non-instrument-specific technique for liner-shell dissociation is detailed.
• The method focuses on the mechanical separation of the polyethylene liner from the acetabular component.
• No specialized extraction devices are employed.

Main Results:

• The described technique allows for effective separation of the polyethylene liner from the acetabular shell.
• The method is applicable in situations requiring revision of the liner alone or with the shell.
• The procedure is designed to be simple and does not require unique surgical instrumentation.

Conclusions:

• A simple, instrument-free method for polyethylene liner extraction during THA revision is presented.
• This technique can facilitate revision surgery, particularly when only the liner requires replacement.
• The described approach offers a practical solution for surgeons performing acetabular component revisions.