Revision arthroplasty--acetabular aspect: cementless acetabular bone reconstruction

The increasing occurrence of aseptic loosening, often accompanied by extensive acetabular defects, confronts the surgeon with severe difficulties. Multisegmental acetabular defects can be treated by bone grafting and metal antiprotrusion support rings. With these techniques, pelvis defects can be reconstructed to achieve a stable and permanent fixation of the acetabular component. Since 1983, more than 850 patients underwent revision surgery of the acetabular component using a reinforcement ring. Forty-one consecutive cases were available for follow-up, including clinical and radiographic examination as well as evaluation of patient history on average 7.3 years after operation. We report the follow-up results of these cases, which demonstrate that this kind of revision surgery guarantees a solid and stable situation at the acetabular component.