Reinforcement Ring-Augmented Hip Arthroplasty: A 35-Year Follow-up

During the late 1980s, techniques were evolving to prevent acetabular component loosening. Inadequate acetabular bone stock further complicated this concern, which was traditionally addressed with cementation and bone grafting during this time period. However, one evolving tactic to address acetabular component loosening in the setting of inadequate acetabular bone stock was to augment bone graft with an acetabular reinforcement ring. In 1963, a 26-year-old, active male sustained a right-sided femoral neck fracture following a skiing accident. He ultimately developed a collapsed femoral head and varus deformity of the femoral neck requiring a total hip arthroplasty with a cemented monoblock femoral component and a polyethylene acetabular component cemented into a reinforcement ring. The initial procedure was performed in 1988, and this prosthesis is still functioning 35 years later and represents one of the longest follow-ups of a patient with a primary total hip arthroplasty with a reinforcement ring.