Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
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Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

Acetabular Cup Insertion



- See: Acetabular Component Menu: 
     
- Acetabular Component: 
    - press fit components 
    - note whether acetabular component is hemispheric or non-hemispheric;
           - non hemispheric components (ie over sized components or components with a peripheral flare) may be more appropriate for protrusio or for situations where 
                   acetabulum will be medialized where as hemisperic components may be more appropriate for shallow or osteoporotic acetabuli;
    - acetabular liner / femoral head size:
           - as pointed out by M. Jasty et al (JBJS 1997), the thickness of the polyethylene component is especially important in metal backed press fit components;
           - w/ smaller acetabular components consider using a 26 mm rather than a 28 mm head;
           - in the report by RL Url MD et al, the authors performed a bench top study to evaluate the consquences of mixing different modular THR components;
                   - the authors noted that the combination of a skirted neck, smaller femoral head, and a posterior lipped liner can have the effect of
                          of causing impingement of the neck on the raised liner (which can cause the femoral head to lever out of socket);
           - references:
                   - Larger diameter femoral heads used in conjunction with a highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene: a new concept.
                   - Wear of Polyethylene Acetabular Components in THA. An Analysis of 128 Components Retrieved at Autopsy or Revision Operations
    - over-sizing the acetabular component: 
 
- Technical Considerations in Component Insertion:
    - acetabular reaming:
    - acetabular component position:
           - component is inserted in same direction of reaming;
    - component insertion;
           - w/ proper acetabular alignment, impact acetabular cup into place;
           - listen for change in pitch as component seats down;
           - probe screw holes and if gap is present then impact further;
           - references:
                   - Impact biomechanics and pelvic deformation during insertion of press-fit acetabular cups. 
                   - Incomplete seating of press-fit porous-coated acetabular components: the fate of zone 2 lucencies.
    - screw placement:
    - anterior & inferior osteophytes;
           - if the acetabulum is retroverted then anterior wall itself will project beyond edges of cup if it is set in anteversion;
           - reflected head of the rectus may be attached to osteophyte;
           - anterio-inferior wall osteophytes must be removed w/ osteotome, cutting along the edge of the cup;
                 - failure to heed this may cause posterior dislocation in flexion and internal rotation; 





    - polyethylene insertion:
           - hiwall acetabular liner:
                  - as noted by Cobb et al 1996, the presence of a high wall liner can reduce the incidence of dislocation in primary THR from about 3.8% to 2.2%
                  - the beneficial effect is probably higher w/ revision surgery;
                  - paradoxically, the high wall liner may actually increase the incidence of anterior dislocation (due to impingement between
                         femoral neck and the elevated lip of the liner);
                  - liners may also contribute to increased polyethylene wear;
           - latealized acetabular liner:
                  - Offset acetabular components introduce torsion on the implant and may increase the risk of fixation failure.
                  - Iliopsoas impingement on the acetabular component: radiologic and computed tomography findings of a rare hip prosthesis complication in eight cases.






Load transfer and fixation mode of press-fit acetabular sockets.










Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.

Last updated by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD on Sunday, September 6, 2009 12:09 pm