Unpredictable progression of osteolysis following cementless hip arthroplasty 24 femoral components followed for 6-10 years

We reviewed 24 hips that developed femoral osteolytic lesions following cementless total hip replacement with a Porous-Coated Anatomic prosthesis after a mean of 8 (6-10) years. 15 of the hips showed hardly any radiographic deterioration in the osteolysis. 2 became much worse with dramatic loss of bone stock. Both of these hips required revision of the acetabular component as well as bone grafting of the otherwise well-fixed femoral component. The remaining 7 hips showed mild-to-moder ate enlargement of the lesions. All 24 hips were asymptomatic.     

Surgical treatment of pelvic osteolysis.

Sixty-eight well-fixed acetabular cups with osteolysis in the pelvis and polyethylene wear were identified from a series of 124 reoperations for failed cementless sockets. The well-fixed sockets requiring reoperation were subdivided based on whether the liner was exchanged and lytic lesion grafted (Type I case) or the socket was removed and a complete revision was done (Type II case). In 40 patients (Type I cases), the polyethylene liner was exchanged and the osteolytic lesions were debrided. Allograft bone chips were packed into the lytic defect in 29 patients. In the remaining 11 patients, the lesions were debrided but not grafted. At final followup, all of the acetabular components were radiographically stable. No new osteolytic lesions were identified. Approximately 1/3 of the lesions had resolved completely regardless of whether they were grafted. The remaining 2/3 had decreased in size. In 28 patients (Type II cases), the socket was revised. Both strategies were successful in arresting the process of osteolysis during the course of this study (mean, 3.5 years). However, removal of well-fixed sockets was associated with significantly more bone loss.     

Osteolysis of the pelvis: evaluation and treatment

Osteolysis of the pelvis is a common and well-recognized complication associated with total hip arthroplasty. The diagnosis and treatment of osteolysis of the pelvis is a challenging and controversial problem. Osteolysis of the pelvis often is asymptomatic and does not present with symptoms until considerable bone loss and loosening of the acetabular socket occur. Radiographs are the most common way to detect and monitor osteolysis around an implant. However, lesions viewed radiographically usually are underestimations of the lesions found intraoperatively. Moreover, some advocate computed tomography scanning to evaluate these lesions. The indications for treatment of osteolysis with cemented acetabular components are defined more clearly than with a cementless component. If the cemented or cementless acetabular component is loose, then revision is necessary. However, it is less clear when to intervene surgically with a well-fixed cup with osteolysis. Many early reports advocated the removal of a well-fixed socket during revision surgery for osteolysis and polyethylene wear. However, the removal of a well-fixed socket has the potential for significant damage and loss of the surrounding bone resulting in loss of integrity of a column or pelvic discontinuity, which may compromise placing another acetabular component. Recently, a new treatment strategy of retaining a well-fixed socket, exchanging the liner, and grafting lesions has proven successful. Without the removal of the acetabular shell, different techniques are needed to graft the osteolytic lesions. Osteolysis is a difficult problem; however, with radiographic surveillance to monitor patients for lesions, proper indications, and good surgical techniques, the treatment of osteolysis of the pelvis can result in a well-functioning total hip arthroplasty.     

全髋关节置换术后髋周炎性假瘤的诊断与治疗

 目的 探讨金属-高分子聚乙烯负重界面全髋关节置换(total hip arthroplasty, THA)术后髋周炎性假瘤的诊断及治疗。方法 2006 年3月至2011 年6 月, 初次金属-高分子聚乙烯负重界面非骨水泥固定THA 术后发生假体周围局灶性骨溶解, 经X 线片和(或)三维CT扫描、超声检查诊断为炎性假瘤7 例(7 髋)。男2 例, 女5 例;年龄32~65岁, 平均48.8 岁。假体稳定固定, 有聚乙烯不对称磨损及髋臼DeLee和Charnley II区局灶性骨溶解, 其中1 例同时有股骨Gruen II区局灶性骨溶解。行炎性假瘤包块切除、骨溶解病灶清除及同种异体颗粒骨植骨, 更换陶瓷-高交联聚乙烯负重界面治疗。结果 7例患者随访3~42 个月, 平均30 个月。无局部炎性假瘤复发、假体周围新发骨溶解及假体松动。4 例假体周围骨溶解区完全被骨组织替代, 2 例有较好的骨长入, 1 例骨长入不明显, 但假体稳定。末次随访时Harris髋关节评分86~100 分, 平均92.4 分。无假体周围感染、异位骨化、假体周围骨折等并发症, 无假体失败而需翻修者。结论 初次THA术后聚乙烯磨损可诱发骨盆内髋周炎性假瘤及假体周围局灶性骨溶解;在手术切除炎性假瘤、清除骨溶解病灶并植骨, 更换负重界面的情况下可保留稳定固定的假体。     

A constrained liner cemented into a secure cementless acetabular shell

BACKGROUND: Constrained acetabular components have been used to treat hips with recurrent instability following total hip arthroplasty and hips that demonstrate instability during revision surgery. In such hips, when a secure cementless acetabular shell is present, the surgeon can cement a constrained liner into the existing shell. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcome of this technique with use of a tripolar constrained liner that was cemented into a well-fixed cementless acetabular shell. METHODS: Between 1988 and 2000, constrained liners were cemented into thirty-one well-fixed cementless acetabular shells at three centers. The average age of the patients at the time of the index surgery was 72.1 years, and the indications for the procedure were recurrent hip instability in sixteen hips and intraoperative instability in fifteen hips. The patients were evaluated with respect to the clinical outcome and radiographic evidence of shell loosening and osteolysis. RESULTS: At an average duration of follow-up of 3.9 years, twenty-nine liners (94%) were securely fixed in the cementless shells and two constrained liners had failed. One liner failed because it separated from the cement, and one failed because of fracture of the capturing mechanism. Both hips were successfully revised with another cemented tripolar constrained liner. No acetabular component demonstrated radiographic evidence of progressive loosening or osteolysis. CONCLUSIONS: A constrained tripolar liner cemented into a secure, well-positioned cementless acetabular shell provides stability and durability at short-term follow-up. Careful attention to the preparation of the liner, the sizing of the component, and the cementing technique are likely to reduce the failure of this construct, which can be used for difficult cases of total hip instability.     

The porous coated anatomic total hip replacement. A ten to fourteen-year follow-up study of a cementless total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: We previously reported our two and five-year results of arthroplasty with the Porous Coated Anatomic total hip prosthesis. We now report on the performance of this prosthesis at ten to fourteen years. METHODS: The results of 311 total hip replacements in which a Porous Coated Anatomic prosthesis was inserted without cement in 279 patients were analyzed prospectively. The average age of the patients at the time of the replacement was sixty--one years (range, twenty to eighty-one years). Sixty-four patients (seventy-six hips) died postoperatively. Forty-five patients (forty-seven hips) were lost to follow-up, and four were excluded because of their medical condition. One hundred and sixty-eight patients (187 hips) were followed for ten to fourteen years (average, twelve years). Seventeen of those patients (seventeen hips) had a revision. RESULTS: The overall survival rate (with any revision as the end point) was 90.0% +/- 5.4% at fourteen years, with an average Harris hip score of 85 +/- 14 points. The prevalence of thigh pain was 36% (fifty-six of 157) in the late period (more than ten years postoperatively). Radiographs showed stable fixation, with bone ingrowth, of 83% (130) of the 156 acetabular components and 88% (137) of the 156 femoral components at the latest follow-up evaluation. Men had a significantly higher rate of femoral osteolysis than did women (p < 0.001). The rates of acetabular and femoral osteolysis associated with 32-mm femoral heads (49% [twenty-three] of forty-seven and 70% [thirty-three] of forty-seven, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those associated with 26-mm heads (26% [twenty-eight] of 109 and 30% [thirty-three] of 109, respectively). Despite this, revision (removal or exchange of components) was not directly related to head size; instead, it was related to polyethylene thickness. CONCLUSIONS: There have been persistent problems with the Porous Coated Anatomic hip system, including thigh pain and an increasing prevalence of osteolysis with time. Revision because of aseptic loosening was related more to the thickness of the polyethylene liner than to the size of the femoral head. Femoral heads with a 32-mm diameter did not increase the risk for revision provided that an adequate thickness of polyethylene had been used.     

病灶清除植骨保留髋臼假体的翻修术治疗假体周围局灶性骨溶解

目的 探讨病灶清除植骨保留髋臼假体的翻修术治疗全髋关节置换(total hip arthroplasty,THA)术后稳定固定的髋臼假体周围局灶性骨溶解的疗效.方法 2006年3月至2009年3月,THA术后髋臼假体稳定固定的假体周围局灶性骨溶解患者23例(23髋),男13例,女10例;年龄39～54岁,平均46.6岁.23例均为非骨水泥髋臼.初次THA至诊断髋臼假体周围骨溶解的时间为4.6～7.4年,平均5.5年.术前HarTis髋关节评分74分.手术经腹股沟入路,行髂骨内板开窗,清除髋臼骨溶解病灶、同种异体颗粒骨植骨;经后外侧人路更换聚乙烯内衬、股骨头假体,保留髋臼假体.翻修术后1、3、6、12个月及之后每年随访1次,以髋关节Harris评分评价临床疗效,摄X线片、CT扫描观察植骨区愈合、新发骨溶解病灶及假体移位情况.结果 16例获得随访,随访时间8～38个月,平均28个月.末次随访时Harris髋关节评分86～100分,平均93.8分.16例植骨区成骨均良好,12例植骨区完全被周围骨爬行替代,髋臼假体固定好,无髋臼假体松动及移位,无新发髋臼假体周围骨溶解,无异位骨化、脱位、深静脉血栓形成及感染等并发症.结论 清除病灶植骨、保留髋臼假体、更换聚乙烯内衬和股骨头假体的翻修术可有效减少聚乙烯磨损颗粒产生,避免骨溶解病灶进展导致的假体松动,近期随访结果良好.     

Particulate bone grafting of osteolytic femoral lesions around stable cementless stems

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of particulate grafting for proximal femoral osteolysis in the presence of a well-fixed cementless femoral stem at the time of acetabular liner change or revision. Sixteen patients (17 hips) who averaged 51 years of age underwent curettage and packing of proximal femoral osteolytic lesions with cancellous allograft. Modular acetabular liners were changed in 11 patients, acetabular revisions were performed in six patients, and femoral heads were exchanged in all patients. The femoral component was retained in all patients. The majority of patients were asymptomatic before revision surgery. The size of the femoral osteolytic lesions was measured preoperatively and postoperatively with anteroposterior and Lauenstein lateral radiographs of the hip. Preoperatively, the average lesion was 41 x 16 mm on the anteroposterior view and 18 x 7 mm on the lateral view. The average clinical and radiographic followup was 39 and 32 months, respectively, with a minimum followup of 24 months. All but one patient remained asymptomatic during the followup period and no femoral stem showed evidence of loosening. The size of the femoral osteolytic lesion averaged 16 x 6 mm on the anteroposterior view and 6 x 2 mm on the lateral view at most recent followup. In 15 of 17 patients, the size of the femoral lesion had regressed. This technique seems to be a viable means of preventing progressive osteolysis and femoral loosening while preserving bone stock for future reconstruction.     

Long-term results using the anatomic medullary locking hip prosthesis.

Since the introduction of cementless total hip arthroplasty in the early 1980s, concern has shifted from component loosening toward polyethylene wear and osteolysis. The current review of 223 consecutive unselected Anatomic Medullary Locking femoral and acetabular components extends the followup on a series of patients previously reported on at 5 and 10 years. The purposes are to describe the reasons for revisions and to assess the onset and size of osteolytic lesions, with the hypothesis that osteolysis represents an important cause of loosening. The population included 204 patients (211 hips) with mean followup of 13.9 years (range, 2-18 years). Among them, 122 patients (129 hips) had a minimum 15-year followup. Minimum 2-year radiographs with a mean radiographic followup of 12.2 years (range, 2-18 years) were available for 204 hips (197 patients). Of the entire study group, 39 hips (38 patients) had 44 component revisions, increasing the number of revisions by 24 since this series was reported previously. Twenty-six patients (27 hips) had their first revision surgery more than 10 years after the primary surgery. The most common reason for revision of original components was wear or osteolysis occurring in 22 of the 39 hips (21 of 38 patients). The overall loosening rate was 3.4% (seven of 204) for femoral components and 5.4% (11 of 204) for acetabular components. Twenty-four percent of hips (48 of 204) had evidence of femoral or pelvic osteolytic lesions larger than 1.5 cm2. Femoral osteolysis was not associated with any case of femoral loosening, whereas seven of the 11 loose acetabular components were associated with pelvic lesions larger than 1.5 cm2.     

Fate of cementless acetabular components retained during revision total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Removal of a well-fixed cementless acetabular component can result in increased operative time and postoperative morbidity. The objectives of this retrospective study were to determine whether retention of a well-fixed acetabular component at the time of isolated femoral revision was compatible with long-term socket survival. METHODS: The records of eighty-three consecutive patients (ninety hips) in whom a well-fixed cementless socket had been retained during revision of a femoral component were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 48.7 years at the time of the primary arthroplasty and 54.1 years at the time of femoral revision. The radiographic analysis was based on anteroposterior radiographs and was performed by a single independent reviewer. The intraoperative criterion for stability of the socket was the absence of movement at the bone-implant interface during the application of direct pressure to the edges of the socket in four quadrants with use of a metallic pusher. RESULTS: At the time of the isolated femoral revision, no socket demonstrated a radiolucent line measuring >1 mm in any two zones and forty of the ninety hips had periacetabular osteolysis. The mean size of the osteolytic lesions was 5.71 cm(2) (range, 0.4 to 24.2 cm(2)), and twenty-eight of the forty hips underwent bone-grafting. The mean duration of follow-up was 9.7 years after the isolated femoral revision and 14.9 years after the primary arthroplasty. Five acetabular sockets were revised at a mean of 6.8 years after the femoral revision. Only one of these sockets had failed because of aseptic loosening. With revision of the acetabular component for any reason as the end point, the survival rate was 98.7% at five years and 93.5% at ten years after the femoral revision and 100% at ten years and 93.9% at fifteen years after the primary arthroplasty. No hip showed recurrence or expansion of periacetabular osteolysis. The prevalence of dislocation was 16% (fourteen of ninety). CONCLUSIONS: Revision of a stable, cementless acetabular component solely on the basis of its duration in vivo or the presence of periacetabular osteolysis does not appear to be warranted. Retention of the socket with grafting of larger periacetabular osteolytic lesions appears to be consistent with satisfactory socket longevity.     

Management of Polyethylene Wear Associated With a Well-Fixed Modular Cementless Shell During Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

We identified 128 revision total hip arthroplasties from 1993 to 2005 involving a well-fixed Harris-Galante Porous (HGP)-I or HGP-II acetabular component with minimum 2-year post-revision follow-up. Three treatment cohorts were identified. Of the hips that underwent modular liner exchange at revision, 14 hips (25%) required re-revision of the acetabular component, 8 for liner dislodgement, 3 for osteolysis and poly-wear, 2 for dislocation, and 1 for aseptic loosening. Of the hips that underwent revision of the well-fixed shell, 4 (15%) required subsequent re-revision of the acetabular component; 2 for dislocation and 2 for aseptic loosening. Six hips (27%) in the cemented liner group were re-revised; 4 for dislocation and 2 for loosening. Complete revision of a well-fixed HGP acetabular component is more reliable than liner exchange or liner cementation.     

Results of porous-coated anatomic total hip arthroplasty without cement at fifteen years: a concise follow-up of a previous report

The purpose of this study was to update the results of a prospective series of primary cementless total hip arthroplasties after a minimum of fifteen years of follow-up. It is one of the first studies of cementless total hip arthroplasties followed for a minimum of fifteen years. One hundred consecutive Porous Coated Anatomic (PCA) total hip replacements were implanted between October 1983 and January 1986. Fifty-five patients (sixty-four hips) that were alive at a minimum of fifteen years postoperatively are the focus of the present study. At this time of follow-up, at an average of 15.6 years (range, fifteen to seventeen years) after the total hip arthroplasty, 17% (seventeen hips) of the entire cohort and 23% (fifteen hips) of the living cohort had undergone revision because of loosening of the acetabular component or osteolysis. Seven percent (seven hips) of the entire cohort and 6% (four hips) of the living cohort had undergone revision for loosening of the femoral component or osteolysis. Only four femoral stems had been revised for isolated loosening (without osteolysis). The PCA femoral component proved to be durable at a minimum of fifteen years postoperatively, while the acetabular component was less durable.     

The incorporation of morselized bone grafts in cementless acetabular revisions

The treatment of large osteolytic lesions is a challenge during acetabular revisions. Periprosthetic bone loss can compromise the stability of new implants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the 5- to 10-year clinical and radiographic results of morselized bone grafting for acetabular osteolysis during cementless acetabular revisions. Ninety-nine patients (108 hips) who had an acetabular revision hip arthroplasty for osteolysis were retrospectively reviewed. There were 44 men and 55 women who had a mean age of 66 years. At the index revision, the acetabular defects were debrided of granulomatous tissue and packed tightly with morselized cancellous femoral head allograft. All the revision acetabular components were implanted using cementless fixation. At a mean followup of 85 months (range, 60-118 months), the results of 103 of 108 hips (95%) were clinically and radiographically successful. The mean preoperative Harris hip score was 37 points, which improved to a mean of 91 points at the last followup. All cavitary defects had complete radiographic incorporation of the bone grafts except for two lesions. The results of this study indicate that morselized bone graft incorporates into cementless acetabular revisions. This treatment method provided a stable reconstruction in 98% of patients at a mean of 7 years followup.     

Cementless total hip arthroplasty in young Chinese patients: a comparison of 2 different prostheses

Sixty-one primary cementless total hip arthroplasties were performed in 45 Chinese patients <40 years old. There were 27 Anatomic Medullary Locking (AML, Depuy, Warsaw, IN) prostheses and 34 Porous Coated Anatomic (PCA, Howmedica, Rutherford, NJ) prostheses. The average follow-up was 7.6 years (range, 3-11 years). Ten hips (16%) were reoperated; the reason was polyethylene wear with or without osteolysis in 7 hips. Osteolytic lesion was present in 34 hips (56%). The cumulative successful rate at 10 years was 67% using reoperation for any reason as the endpoint. The cumulative successful rate was 98%, however, if revision for aseptic loosening was used as the endpoint. The 2 prostheses did not show significant differences in most parameters except that the PCA hips had significantly more acetabular loosening (P =.02) and periprosthetic osteolysis (P =.01).     

Cemented Liner Exchange With Bone Grafting Halts the Progression of Periacetabular Osteolysis

The aims of this were to examine the effect of acetabular liner exchange and intra-operative bone grafting surgery on peri-prosthetic osteolysis. Seven patients with well-fixed Harris-Galante-1 acetabular components received cemented exchange liners for worn liners associated with pre-operatively CT-quantified osteolysis. During surgery, accessible osteolytic lesions were debrided and bone-grafted. Except for one patient with recurrent dislocation and acetabular component revision, the other patients had CT scans at a median of 4 months and at approximately 4 years after surgery. None of the pre-operative lesions increased in volume during the post-operative reporting period and no new lesions were detected. These results show that cemented liner exchange surgery can halt the progression of osteolysis and that bone grafting has the potential to restore bone.     

Second-generation cementless total hip arthroplasty. Eight to eleven-year results.

BACKGROUND: Second-generation cementless femoral components were designed to provide more reliable ingrowth and to limit distal osteolysis by incorporating circumferential proximal ingrowth surfaces. We examined the eight to eleven-year results of total hip arthroplasty with a cementless, anatomically designed femoral component and a cementless hemispheric acetabular component. METHODS: Ninety-two consecutive primary total hip arthroplasties with implantation of a femoral component with a circumferential proximal porous coating (Anatomic Hip) and a cementless hemispheric porous-coated acetabular component (Harris-Galante II) were performed in eighty-five patients. These patients were prospectively followed clinically and radiographically. Six patients (seven hips) died and five patients (seven hips) were lost to follow-up, leaving seventy-four patients (seventy-eight hips) who had been followed for a mean of ten years (range, eight to eleven years). The mean age at the time of the arthroplasty was fifty-two years. RESULTS: The mean preoperative Harris hip score of 51 points improved to 94 points at the time of final follow-up; 86% of the hips had a good or excellent result. Thigh pain was reported as mild to severe after seven hip arthroplasties. No femoral component was revised for any reason, and none were loose radiographically at the time of the last follow-up. Two hips underwent acetabular revision (one because of dislocation and one because of loosening). Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis was performed with revision or loosening of any component as the end point. The ten-year survival rate was 96.4% +/- 2.1% for the total hip prosthesis, 100% for the femoral component, and 96.4% +/- 2.1% for the acetabular component. Radiolucencies adjacent to the nonporous portion of the femoral component were seen in sixty-eight (93%) of the -seventy-three hips with complete radiographic follow-up. Femoral osteolysis proximal to the lesser trochanter was noted in four hips (5%). No osteolysis was identified distal to the lesser trochanter. Periacetabular osteolysis was identified in twelve hips (16%). Five patients underwent exchange of the acetabular liner because of polyethylene wear. CONCLUSIONS: This second-generation cementless, anatomically designed femoral component provided excellent clinical and radiographic results with a 100% survival rate at ten years. The circumferential porous coating of this implant improved ingrowth and prevented distal osteolysis at a mean of ten years after the arthroplasty.     

Revision total hip arthroplasty for pelvic osteolysis with well-fixed cementless cup

Treatment of pelvic osteolysis after total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains controversial. Clinical and radiographic outcomes of revision THA were evaluated in 62 hips with pelvic osteolysis and well-fixed cementless cups. The patients' mean age was 50.9 years, and the mean interval from primary to revision THA was 9.7 years. For revision, cementless cups were used in 51 hips, and cemented cups in 11 with acetabular reinforcement rings in 9. The mean duration of follow-up after revision THA was 5.9 years (range, 3.0-9.7 years). At final follow-up, the average Harris Hip Score was 92.4, and there was no radiographic complication except for 1 with change of inclination. Revision THA for pelvic osteolysis with well-fixed cementless cups showed favorable outcomes, and it can be preferentially used in young patients.     

Cementless acetabular fixation at fifteen years. A comparison with the same surgeon's results following acetabular fixation with cement

BACKGROUND: Loosening of the acetabular component is the major long-term problem associated with total hip arthroplasty with cement. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the minimum thirteen-year results associated with cementless acetabular components that had been inserted by a single surgeon and to compare them with the results associated with cemented acetabular components that had been inserted by the same surgeon. METHODS: One hundred and twenty consecutive, nonselected primary total hip replacements were performed in 108 patients with use of a Harris-Galante-I cementless acetabular component and a cemented femoral component with a 28-mm head. The patients were evaluated clinically with use of a standard terminology questionnaire, and they were evaluated radiographically for loosening, component migration, wear, and osteolysis. The rates of revision for aseptic loosening and radiographic evidence of loosening for this cohort were compared with the rates for four previously reviewed consecutive series of hips in which the acetabular component had been inserted with cement. All patients were managed by the same surgeon, were followed for thirteen to fifteen years, and were evaluated with use of the same two criteria (revision and loosening) as the end points for Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients (seventy-two hips) were living and forty-two patients (forty-eight hips) had died after thirteen to fifteen years of follow-up. No acetabular component had been revised because of aseptic loosening, and no acetabular component had migrated. With revision of the acetabular component for any reason as the end point, the survival rate was 81% +/- 8% at fifteen years. With revision of the acetabular component for clinical failure (osteolysis, wear, loosening, or dislocation) as the end point, the survival rate was 94% +/- 8% at fifteen years. Among the seventy hips with at least thirteen years of radiographic follow-up, five had pelvic osteolysis and three had had revision of a well-fixed acetabular component because of pelvic osteolysis secondary to polyethylene wear. The mean linear wear rate was 0.15 mm/yr (0.12 mm/yr when one outlier was excluded). CONCLUSIONS: In terms of fixation, Harris-Galante-I cementless acetabular components performed better than did cemented 22-mm-inner-diameter Charnley acetabular components as well as 28-mm-inner-diameter all-polyethylene and metal-backed acetabular components that had been inserted by the same surgeon. However, the rate of wear was greater in association with the Harris-Galante-I cementless components than it was in association with the Charnley cemented all-polyethylene components.     

Isolated liner exchange in revision total hip arthroplasty: clinical results using the direct lateral surgical approach

Twenty-four hips (23 patients) underwent isolated polyethylene liner exchange (modular and nonmodular liners) via the direct lateral surgical approach for a preoperative diagnosis of polyethylene wear and acetabular osteolysis. Accessible osteolytic lesions were bone grafted with cancellous allograft. Patients were followed up clinically and radiographically, with a mean follow-up time of 36 months (range, 12-100 months). A computer-assisted method measured lesional area from the radiographs of the 18 hips that presented with osteolysis. Seventeen of 18 lesions either regressed or resolved since the procedure. Two patients required repeat revisions, and no dislocations were noted. Clinically, both Harris Hip and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores improved postoperatively. In selected patients, isolated liner exchange with or without bone grafting is effective for treating polyethylene wear and associated osteolysis. Dislocation rates with revision may be reduced using a surgical approach that preserves an adequate capsular layer for closure in liner exchange surgery.