A review of outcomes and modes of presentation following liner dissociation from Harris-Galante uncemented acetabular components.

PURPOSE: Dissociation of the polyethylene liner is a known failure mechanism of the Harris Galante I and II uncemented acetabular components. The outcomes of revision surgery for this indication and the influence of time to diagnosis are not well described.

METHODS

We report a series of 29 cases revised due to this failure mechanism. The median time from primary to revision surgery was 13 years.

RESULTS

At a median of 4 years follow-up, the mean OHS was 34 (range 6-48) but results were poorer (mean 29; range 6-45) when the diagnosis and revision was delayed compared to when it was not (mean 39; range 20-48). A large proportion of our patients (n = 14) presented with sudden onset of symptoms with or without trauma. Osteolysis was common in this series but the cup was well fixed in 20/29 cases. There was macroscopic damage to the shell in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, prompt revision of liner dissociation optimises outcomes in this group of patients and radiology reporting alone is not sufficient to identify these cases.