Midterm Outcomes Following Reconstruction of Superolateral Acetabular Defects Using Flying Buttress Porous Tantalum Augments During Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Introduction Porous tantalum augments are versatile tools in reconstructing complex acetabular defects during revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study examines the clinical and radiographic outcomes of porous tantalum augments placed in the Type I (flying buttress) configuration at two to 17 years follow-up in the largest cohort to-date in the literature. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 59 consecutive revision THAs involving use of flying buttress augments between 2003 and 2018. The mean patient age and follow-up duration were 63.9±11.6 years (range, 35–87) and 8 years (range, 2–17), respectively. The Oxford Hip Score (OHS) was used to assess clinical outcome. The modified Moore classification was used to assess acetabular augment and shell osseointegration. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess implant survivorship. Results The mean OHS improved from 15.9±6.2 preoperatively to 35.0±6.5 at a mean follow-up of eight years (p Conclusions Treatment of superolateral acetabular defects during revision THA using porous tantalum augments placed in the Type I (flying buttress) configuration provides excellent implant survivorship and favorable clinical outcomes at midterm follow-up. Level of Evidence Therapeutic Level IV.