Clinical and design factors influence the survivorship of custom flange acetabular components.

AIMS: Custom flange acetabular components (CFACs) are a patient-specific option for addressing large acetabular defects at revision total hip arthroplasty (THA), but patient and implant characteristics that affect survivorship remain unknown. This study aimed to identify patient and design factors related to survivorship. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 91 patients who underwent revision THA using 96 CFACs was undertaken, comparing features between radiologically failed and successful cases. Patient characteristics (demographic, clinical, and radiological) and implant features (design characteristics and intraoperative features) were collected. There were 74 women and 22 men; their mean age was 62 years (31 to 85). The mean follow-up was 24.9 months (sd 27.6; 0 to 116). Two sets of statistical analyses were performed: 1) univariate analyses (Pearson's chi-squared and independent-samples Student's t-tests) for each feature; and 2) bivariable logistic regressions using features identified from a random forest analysis. RESULTS: Radiological failure and revision rates were 23% and 12.5%, respectively. Revisions were undertaken at a mean of 25.1 months (sd 26.4) postoperatively. Patients with radiological failure were younger at the time of the initial procedure, were less likely to have a diagnosis of primary osteoarthritis (OA), were more likely to have had ischial screws in previous surgery, had fewer ischial screw holes in their CFAC design, and had more proximal ischial fixation. Random forest analysis identified the age of the patient and the number of locking and non-locking screws used for inclusion in subsequent bivariable logistic regression, but only age (odds ratio 0.93 per year) was found to be significant. CONCLUSION: We identified both patient and design features predictive of CFAC survivorship. We found a higher rate of failure in younger patients, those whose primary diagnosis was not OA, and those with more proximal ischial fixation or fewer ischial fixation options. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B(6 Supple B):68-76.

Influence of acetabular rim profile on hip dislocation.

Dislocation is the second most common complication in total hip arthroplasty, with reported incidences of up to 8 per cent. The authors' hypothesis is that, by modifying the rim of an acetabular component in order to shift the femoral neck contact position towards the periphery of the acetabulum, the torque required to dislocate the hip joint can be increased without reducing the range of motion. Three liners were designed and their dislocation characteristics mechanically evaluated using a custom experimental test jig designed to simulate the seated leg-cross. On the basis of torque and energy to dislocate and angle at dislocation, the hypothesis was accepted; geometrically varying the contact area between the femoral neck and the acetabular rim appear to be a powerful way to modify hip dislocation characteristics.

Finite element analysis of a novel design approach to resisting total hip dislocation.

OBJECTIVE: A new design concept has been developed to reduce the propensity for dislocation in total hip patients. The ability of this design to increase the stability of the hip joint is studied. DESIGN: The new design involves a convex-curved acetabular lip, extending from the hemispherical articulating surface to the outer edge of the cup. The femoral component has a matching, reverse curve. BACKGROUND: Dislocation is a continuing problem in total hip arthroplasty, a complication experienced by 2-11% of patients with primary surgeries, and much higher percentage of patients in revision series. Confounding factors and sources of variability in the clinical domain make it difficult to identify specific parameter influences. METHODS: A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model has been developed for the purpose of studying the dislocation event. We report the first use of this finite element model to analyze the potential for improving hip stability by a new total hip component design concept. RESULTS: The results show that this new design achieves 28% more resisting moment build-up during dislocation, and has a higher range of motion from impingement to onset of subluxation. The new curved lip design also develops 50% less polyethylene von Mises stress in the impingement zone. CONCLUSIONS: This design has excellent potential for increasing the inherent stability of the total hip joint. RELEVANCE: Recurrent dislocation is the second leading cause of total hip failure next to late loosening. This study shows the potential of a new total hip design to increase the stability of the artificial hip joint.