Femoral head bone grafting for reconstruction of the acetabular wall in dysplastic hip replacement

From 1980 through 1991 we screwed a preshaped cortico-cancellous bone graft onto the ileum wall to compensate acetabular deficiency in 94 consecutive total hip replacements. We report the results of 87 hips (79 patients) with an average follow-up of 30 months (12-75 months) postoperatively. Pain in dysplasia-coxarthrosis and congenital dislocation of the hip, destructive coxitis in rheumatoid arthritis and cup loosening was the main indication for surgery. According to the Merle d'Aubigné score the postoperative clinical evaluation demonstrated 77% very good and 18% good results. Due to component loosening the results had to be classified as unsatisfactory in 4 hips (2 cups and 2 stems). At the time of evaluation 90% of the arthroplasties was osseously consolidated as evidenced by trabecular bridging and structural integrity with host bone. Resorptions of the graft were noted in 32 hips. One cup was removed because of complete resorption and consecutive loosening, a further one was considered clinically and radiologically loose because of partial graft resorption. Two further complete resorptions and 28 partial lateral resorptions had no influence on the secondary stability of the implant. We are aware that these are short-term results. Nevertheless, we recommend the described method as a valuable addition to arthroplasties for acetabular rim defects both in osteoarthritis and in revision surgery.