Abstract
Purpose.
To review cases of implantation of constraining acetabular components for unstable or recurrent dislocating total hip arthroplasty at the Department of Orthopaedics, Concord Hospital, Sydney.
Methods.
A retrospective analysis was performed on prospectively collected data of 13 consecutively enrolled patients.
Results.
From 1989 to 2000, 13 constraining acetabular components were implanted into 13 patients as a revision procedure. The surgical approach for the implantation of the constrained liner was posterolateral in 11 cases; a modified Hardinge approach was applied in 2 cases. The mean clinical follow-up duration was 43 months (range, 14–121 months) and the mean age at the time of surgery was 73 years (range, 52–84 years). No patients were lost to follow-up. Indications for using the constrained acetabular component were recurrent dislocation in revision hip replacements (n=8), and intra-operative instability (n=5). There were no episodes of dislocation of the constrained arthroplasty. In 7 cases, the constrained component was implanted into a previously well-fixed shell.
Conclusion.
We recommend the judicious use of the constrained component in cases of hip instability during or after total hip arthroplasty when other methods are not successful.