Oversized acetabular socket causing groin pain after total hip arthroplasty.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Arthroplasty research
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Groin pain is a common and disabling complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA).
• Identifying the precise cause of post-THA groin pain is crucial for effective management.
• Numerous etiologies exist, necessitating thorough diagnostic evaluation.

Observation:

• A patient presented with persistent groin pain after undergoing cementless total hip arthroplasty.
• Imaging and intraoperative findings revealed an oversized acetabular component.
• This oversized component had resulted in a breach of the anterior acetabular wall.

Findings:

• The oversized cementless acetabular component was identified as the cause of the patient's groin pain.
• Surgical intervention involved reconstruction of the anterior acetabular wall using a femoral head allograft.
• The patient experienced complete symptom resolution following the reconstruction procedure.

Implications:

• This case highlights oversized acetabular components as a potential cause of groin pain after cementless THA.
• Acetabular wall integrity is critical for successful hip arthroplasty outcomes.
• Femoral head allograft reconstruction offers a viable solution for acetabular wall defects following THA.