Dislocation of polyethylene liner in uncemented Harris Galante II acetabulum

We report the dislocation of 6 liners out of the metal backing shells of Harris Galante II cementless total hip prostheses implanted between 1993 and 1996. The time between primary implantation and failure varied from 46 to 95 months. The dislocations were probably the result of suboptimal mechanical fixation of the polyethylene liner in the shell compounded by suboptimal positioning of the acetabular component. In 5 cases, both the metal backing and the liner were revised because of broken tines. In one case, only the liner was exchanged.