Revision total hip arthroplasty for paprosky type III acetabular defect with structural allograft and tantalum trabecular metal acetabular cup

There are several surgical options for addressing Paprosky type III acetabular defects during revision total hip arthroplasty. In physiologically young and active patients, using structural bone graft to restore bone defects and provide adequate initial support for the revision acetabular component is one such option. This study reports the mid-term results of using a structural allograft accompanied by a trabecular metal-coated hemispherical cup for Paprosky type III defects. A retrospective analysis was performed of the data collected for 20 consecutive hips in 20 patients (mean age, 56.2 years; range, 43-68 years) with minimum 3-year follow-up (mean, 5.4 years; range, 3.3-10.3 years) who had a structural allograft accompanied by a trabecular metal-coated hemispherical cup for Paprosky type III defects. Only 1 hip had cup migration, which was less than 3 mm in vertical and less than 5° in inclination and recognized as loosening without symptoms. All grafts showed good incorporation with trabecular bridging over the graft and host bone. The mean modified Harris hip score showed significant improvement, from 29.7 (range, 11-52) preoperatively to 84.1 (range, 77-91) at the latest follow-up (P<.05). The use of a structural allograft combined with a tantalum trabecular metal acetabular cup in acetabular revision for Paprosky type III defects had a satisfactory mid-term clinical result. This is a viable option for patients with large acetabular shelf defects.