Cemented first-time revision using charnley cups

Forty-six consecutive polyethylene cups used in cemented first-time revision of the acetabulum were evaluated at repeated occasions up to mean 10.7 years (range, 0.5–16.3 years). At the last follow-up, 3 cups had been revised (6.5%), 2 because of loosening and 1 because of fracture of the acetabulum. Furthermore, 4 were radiographically loose, corresponding to a radiographic loosening rate of 13% and a mechanical failure rate (revision or radiographic loosening) of 15.2%. Presence of rheumatoid arthritis was the only predictor of mechanical failure (relative risk [RR] = 7.7, 95% confidence limits, 1.7–36.2; P = .002). In patients without rheumtoid arthritis, there was only 1 (2.6%) revision and 3 of 39 cases (7.7%) with mechanical failure. Recementation of a Charnley cup in first-time revisions results in a low failure rate in an elderly, nonrheumatoid arthritis population with small or moderate bone deficiencies.