The Use of Basket and Cross Shell Reinforcement in Revision Acetabulum Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: In spite of many decades of experience and huge data resources to evaluate the results of increasingly difficult and extensive acetabulum revision operations, it is not possible to obtain fully satisfactory results. This article presents the indications for use, surgical technique, and distant and intermediate-range results in the operation of replacing a loosened acetabular component of an endoprosthesis with accompanying extensive cavitary or segmental floor defects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was performed on 65 hips in 55 patients, including bila-teral procedures in 8 women and 2 men, operated on between 1994 and 2012. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 66 +/- 16 years. The average duration of follow-up was 9 years and 3 months.

RESULTS: Clinical results at 36 months from the surgery showed that the Harris Hip Score had increased by a mean of 47.2 HHS points and the WOMAC index had increased by 37.7 points.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. The use of the method described in the article in selected cases produces good and excellent results, especially with the use of double reinforcement. 2. A basic prerequisite for the use of the basket is stable support for at least 3 arms of the basket on the acetabular bone reinforcement ring and good protection of grafts in the bone stock with sufficient biological capacity.