A fractured and immovable ceramic liner in a screw-fixed acetabular shell during total hip arthroplasty: a case...

We report a complication during total hip arthroplasty using an uncemented press-fit acetabular shell and ceramic liner for a woman with osteoarthritis. Fracture of the ceramic liner occurred during its insertion owing to non-concentric reduction. The main body of the ceramic liner became wedged in the acetabular shell and was resistant to removal. The shell itself was immovable owing to the prior insertion of 2 polyaxial screws, to which access was covered. Successful removal involved drilling a hole in the ceramic liner as a stress riser, and then cracking the liner with a Steinman pin.