Unpressurised cement acetabular liner (UCAL)--an additional technique for enhancing hip spacer performance

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Infectious Disease Management
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• First-stage revision of infected hip arthroplasty presents significant surgical challenges.
• Maintaining skeletal integrity and managing bony defects are critical for effective infection control.
• Current antibiotic-eluting spacers often fail to meet all ideal criteria, including bone stock preservation and stability.

Observation:

• The surgical management of infected hip revisions necessitates intra-operative adaptability to diverse findings.
• Surgeons require a versatile armamentarium of techniques and devices to address potential complications.
• The ideal spacer should preserve bone stock, allow stable articulation, deliver antibiotics locally, resist breakage, and be easily removable.

Findings:

• The unpressurised cement acetabular liner (UCAL) is presented as an innovative option for infected hip revisions.
• UCAL offers distinct advantages in managing complex cases with bony defects.
• Two illustrative cases are presented to demonstrate the application and benefits of UCAL.

Implications:

• UCAL may provide a superior solution for bone preservation and functional outcomes in infected hip revision surgery.
• This approach could enhance infection control and reduce the need for further reconstructive procedures.
• Further investigation into UCAL's long-term efficacy and broader applicability is warranted.