Poor results after augmenting autograft with xenograft (Surgibone) in hip revision surgery

Background Surgibone Unilab is prepared from bovine bone and contains hydroxyapatite and protein. It is supposed to be immunogenically inert but the protein could be antigenic in man.

Patients and methods We followed 27 patients for an average of 2.5 (1–5) years, all of whom had received Surgibone mixed with autograft to fill in defects in the acetabulum and the proximal femur in revision hip surgery.

Results In 17 patients, there was apparently complete incorporation of the bone graft within 6 months. In 3 of these patients, the graft was incorporated after 3 months. In 3 patients, however, there was no incorporation of the graft as late as 3 years after the operation. 3 other patients appeared to have a type of graft rejection (pseudoinfection). 1 other patient suffered MRSA deep infection of the prosthesis which resulted in removal of the implants 1 month postoperatively.

Interpretation Use of Surgibone xenograft in revision hip surgery, even in combination with autograft, resulted in failure and the need for rerevision in at least one quarter of the cases studied.