Late fiber metal shedding of the first and second-generation Harris Galante acetabular component. A report of 5 cases

Five patients presented with fiber metal mesh shedding of a Harris Galante II acetabular cup detected between 11 and 15 years after implantation. All patients presented with hip pain and 4 demonstrated gross acetabular loosening and fiber metal separation on preoperative radiographs. The remaining patient underwent revision surgery because of a liner dislodgment and had a radiographically well fixed shell. Loosening and fiber metal separation were detected intraoperatively. Scanning electron microscopy of the retrieved shells demonstrated isolated diffusion bonding marks in the areas where the mesh separated from the substrate and no evidence of corrosion. Progressive osteolysis in the iliac bone was evident in 4 of our cases. Progressive iliac osteolysis may lead to loss of bone support in well-fixed cups and excessive stresses transferred to the interface between the fiber metal mesh and the titanium substrate leading to the separation of the 2 layers. Fiber metal separation may contribute to long-term loosening in the Harris Galante acetabular component.