Introduction: Acetabular revision surgery poses a challenge due to the increased frequency of severe defects and poor quality of the remaining bone. We compare the clinical and radiological outcomes, complications, and survival of two systems commonly used in complex acetabular revisions (AAOS types II, III, and IV): trabecular metal system (TM) and Burch-Schneider antiprotrusion cages (BS).
Methods: Eighty-four patients underwent acetabular revision surgery with TM or BS in our centre between 2008 and 2014. Comparison was made of demographic and clinical characteristics, satisfaction, radiographic parameters, complications, and survival of the implants. A BS was implanted in 30.9% of the patients, while 69.1% received a TM implant. The mean follow-up was 4.77 years.
Results: The BS group required a significantly greater number of constrained implants (p = 0.001) and more walking aids (p = 0.04). The mean satisfaction (p = 0.02) and HHS scores at the end of the follow-up were higher in the TM group (p = 0.003). No differences were observed in the incidence of complications, though the only two cases of implant rupture corresponded to the BS group. The overall survival rate was 88.1% after 7.5 years.
Conclusion: TM implants afforded better clinical outcomes and greater patient satisfaction than antiprotrusion cages in the treatment of severe acetabular defects.
Keywords: Antiprotrusion cages; Hip arthroplasty; Revision; Trabecular metal system.