High failure rate of bulk femoral head allografts in total hip acetabular reconstructions at 10 years

Abstract The authors evaluated the radiographic appearance and functional performance of 30 cemented total hip arthroplasty acetabular reconstructions in 28 patients in whom bulk, weight-bearing, femoral head allografts were used to augment severe acetabular bone deficiency with a mean follow-up period of 10 years (range, 8–13.3 years). The average age of the patients was 51 years. The current study group represents the 10-year subset of a larger series of 38 hip reconstructions previously reported. The graft was bolted within the acetabulum in 12 hips and to the lateral wing of the ilium in the other 18 hips. On average, these grafts supported approximately 60% of the acetabular component. All grafts united. Failure of fixation of the acetabular component occurred in 47% of the acetabular reconstructions (14 hips in 14 patients). Four were diagnosed as loose on the basis of radiographic criteria alone and the other 10 hips had a loose acetabular component at reoperation. Loosening occurred in 58% (7 of 12) of the sockets with intraacetabular graft and in 40% (7 of 18) of those bolted to the lateral ilium. The failure rate of 47% in these reconstructions at 10 years is in sharp contrast to high success rates at less than 5 years and argues against the use of bulk weight-bearing allografts for most situations uncless the only alternative is resection arthroplasty.