Three dimensionalprinted titanium block to reconstruct severe acetabular bone defects in primary hip arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Severe acetabular bone defects pose significant challenges in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).
• Traditional reconstruction methods may have limitations in addressing complex bone loss.
• Personalized implants are emerging as a solution for complex orthopedic reconstructions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology for creating personalized titanium blocks.
• To analyze the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of these 3D printed blocks for acetabular defect reconstruction in primary THA.
• To evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes and complication rates associated with this technique.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 35 patients with Paprosky type 3 acetabular defects undergoing primary THA with 3D-printed titanium implants.
• Evaluation of clinical outcomes using the Harris Hip Score (HHS).
• Radiographic assessment of hip rotation centers (V-COR and H-COR) and postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in HHS from 44.5 preoperatively to 85.1 postoperatively (p < 0.001).
• Accurate reconstruction with good fit between the 3D-printed block and acetabulum observed on X-rays.
• Significant reduction in V-COR (p < 0.001) and stable H-COR postoperatively, with no significant changes at follow-up.
• Low complication rate, with only three cases (wound redness, partial sciatic nerve paralysis) reported.

Conclusions:

• 3D-printed personalized titanium blocks enable accurate acetabular reconstruction in primary THA.
• The technique yields satisfactory radiographic and clinical outcomes with a low complication profile.
• This method presents a reliable treatment strategy for patients with severe acetabular bone defects.