Porous tantalum shell and augment for acetabular defect reconstruction in revision total hip arthroplasty: a mid-term follow-up study

Aim The use of porous tantalum trabecular metal (TM) shell and augment to reconstruct acetabular defects in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a reliable technique. We evaluated the mid-term implant survival, clinical, and radiological outcomes of our first 48 revisions using this technique. Patients and methods A total of 45 patients (48 hips) who had acetabular revision of THA between 2011 and 2017 using TM shell and augment with possible mid-term follow-up were included. Twenty-two patients were men (49%) and 23 were women (51%), mean age was 62.5 years (34 to 85) and mean follow-up was 75 months (54 to 125). Twenty-four hips (50%) had a Paprosky IIIA defect, 14 (29.2%) had a type IIIB defect, six (12.5%) had a type IIC defect, and four hips (8.3%) had a type IIB defect. None of the patients had pelvic discontinuity (PD). Results At a mean 6.25 years follow-up, all hips remained well-fixed and implant survival of 100% with the need of re-revision as the end point. Screw fixation was used for all shells; augments and the shell-augment interface was cemented. Excellent pain relief (mean WOMAC score pain 90.5, (38.3 to 100)), and functional outcomes (mean WOMAC function 88.3 (31.9 to 100), mean OHS 89.2 (31.8 to 100)) were noted. Patient satisfaction scores were excellent. Conclusion This study demonstrated satisfactory mid-term clinical and radiological outcomes of using TM shell and augment for reconstructing major acetabular defects without PD in revision THA.