Reinforcement Rings for Deficient Acetabular Bone in Revision Surgery: Long-Term Results
This study analyzes the long-term results of 23 metal ring supports used in revision surgery since 1979. Only a metallic ring and a cemented cup were used in this series. Bone grafts and cementless cups were excluded from this study. One deep infection was excluded from the follow-up study. In the 22 cases analyzed, the mean follow-up period was 10 years for all cases and 12.2 years for unrevised cases. Bone defects according to the AAOS classification were: Grade 1, 1 case, Grade 2, 1 case, Grade 3, 10 cases, and Grade 4, 10 cases. A Müller ring was indicated in an anterior or medial wall defect (12 cases) and a Burch-Schneider ring was indicated in an anterior or posterior column defect or in pelvic discontinuity (10 cases). The clinical results were good in 8 cases, fair in 8 cases, and poor in 6 cases. Six cases were rerevised or removed, resulting in a total cumulative probability of rerevison or removal of 23.8% after 10 years according to the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Postoperatively, 18 cases had neutral rings, 2 cases had horizontal rings, and 2 cases had vertical rings. Radiological cup migration was found in 12 cases, resulting in a total cumulative probability of migration of 56.8% after 13 years according to the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Changes in the acetabular angle were present in 2 cases, vertical migration in 12 cases, and medial migration in 10 cases. Our data suggest that the metal ring and cemented cup alone could be used for salvage surgery in elderly patients and in low-demand patients. Possibly, adding bone graft could improve these results.