Patient-Specific Reconstruction of Large Bone Defects: Clinical Success Due to an Integrated Bioengineering Workflow

Surgical reconstruction of major acetabular defects (Paprosky type IIIb) in view of total hip replacement is a challenge. Existing systems have a documented failure rate between 20% and 50% at five years post-operatively. Our first hypothesis is that this limited success is due to the fact that standard components have to be adapted and assembled intraoperatively to provide a patient solution. Hence our second hypothesis is that a fully personalized solution for acetabular reconstruction will provide an added value for the patient’s outcome.