Polyethylene wear and osteolysis with a new modular titanium acetabular component: results at 7 to 13 years

The first-generation and second-generation modular titanium fiber-metal acetabular components were notable for high rates of pelvic osteolysis and liner dislodgment. This is a prospective, consecutive study of 111 new modular titanium-fiber metal acetabular components with a novel polyethylene locking mechanism at a mean follow-up of 9.5 years (range, 7-13 years). The polyethylene was gamma-irradiated in air in 58 hips and gamma-irradiated in nitrogen in 54 hips. No acetabular component migrated, none were revised, and there was no liner dislodgment. Pelvic osteolysis was seen in only 2 hips. The mean linear wear rate was 0.085 mm/y (range, 0.001-0.3 mm/y). There was a significantly lower rate of wear with polyethylene liners sterilized by gamma-irradiation in nitrogen (P = .0001). The high rate of success and low rate of polyethylene wear and pelvic osteolysis at this length of follow-up may be related to the new design features of this modular acetabular component.