Acetabular Revision Using a Trabecular Metal Acetabular Component for Severe Acetabular Bone Loss Associated With a Pelvic Discontinuity

Pelvic discontinuity can be encountered during acetabular revision in patients with severe bone loss. All patients who had an acetabular reconstruction for a type IIIB acetabular defect according to the classification of Paprosky et al [Paprosky WG, Perona PG, Lawrence JM. 1994. Acetabular defect classification and surgical reconstruction in revision arthroplasty. A 6-year follow-up evaluation. J Arthroplasty 9:33.] with an associated pelvic discontinuity between 2001 and 2003 were reviewed. A trabecular metal acetabular component with or that without an acetabular augment was used to obtain fixation proximal and distal to the discontinuity. Thirteen patients (13 hips) were treated for a type IIIB acetabular defect. At an average of 2.6 years of follow-up, 1 patient demonstrated possible radiographic loosening. The other 12 patients maintained radiographically stable hips. None of the patients required repeat surgical intervention. Clinically, the patients' modified Postel–Merle d'Aubigne score improved from 6.1 preoperatively to 10.3 postoperatively. The treatment of pelvic discontinuity during acetabular revision using a trabecular metal acetabular component with or that without an associated trabecular metal augment appears to provide reliable and reproducible short-term results.