Does pelvic osteolysis occur with a nonmodular uncemented acetabular component?

Abstract

We present a radiographic follow-up of an uncemented, nonmodular, pure titanium-backed acetabular component at 6 to 12 years postimplantation. Between 1990 and 1992, 130 primary total hip arthroplasties were carried out by 1 surgeon using this implant, in association with both cemented and uncemented femoral components. There were 19 deaths, 5 revisions, and 19 hips lost to follow-up, leaving 87 hips available for review at a mean of 9.6 years. Two revisions were for infection, whereas 3 well-fixed cups were changed at the time of revision of a loose femoral component to allow downsizing to a 28-mm head. No cup has been revised for aseptic loosening. There was no radiographic evidence of periacetabular osteolysis or loosening of any of the cups, even in a subgroup of 31 patients who were 60 years or younger at the time of implantation.