Porous surface replacement of the hip with chamfered-cylinder component

One hundred porous surface replacements (PSR) were performed in 92 patients (63 men and 29 women) with a mean age of 53 (range 17-76). Follow-up times range from 1 to 4 years, with 48 patients having a follow-up of at least 2 years. Preoperative diagnoses were osteoarthritis (OA) 63, osteonecrosis (ON) 13, dysplasia 9, rheumatoid-ankylosing spondylitis 6, and other 9. Seventeen hips had metal-backed acrylic-fixed THARIES acetabular sockets, nine hips had a porous cobalt chrome hemispheric beaded acetabular component with adjuvant fixation screws and externally protruding screw hubs, and 74 hips had a porous chamfered cylinder-design acetabulum. Pain relief had been immediate and more complete than with acrylic-fixed or biologic-ingrowth stem-type replacement with comparable walking and function improvements. There have been no major systemic complications, sepsis, or loosening. There have been two transient peroneal nerve palsies and three trochanteric fibrous unions. There have been three reoperations, one for subluxation, one for "metalosis" due to mesh pad loosening, and one femoral neck fracture. Examination of one removed femoral surface component which has been histologically sectioned revealed excellent (90%) bone in-growth. Circumferential progressive radiolucencies developed at the bone-cement interface by 1 year in all of the 17 acrylic-fixed acetabular components. Reaming or seating defects were noted in 25% of the ingrowth components on postoperative radiographs. Radiographic analysis of immediate postoperative films of the chamfered cylinder design acetabular components frequently demonstrated bone-component interface radiolucencies which represented component seating defects. These initial interface radiolucencies became progressively more narrow over the first six months postoperatively suggesting "healing" of the reamed bone-component interface with trabecular bone around the chamfered cylinder acetabular components. Partial healing of initial interface voids with residual narrow radiolucencies were typical of the nine hemispheric-design acetabula with adjuvant screws and screw hubs. This new porous surface replacement (PSR) of the hip using porous ingrowth fixation avoids the major disadvantages of acrylic-fixed SR: excessive acetabular reaming and difficulty with acetabular revision. (When conversion to stem-type replacement is necessary the modular polyethylene socket liner can be exchanged.) The PSR has the prospect of enhanced fixation and improved longterm durability.