Midterm Outcomes After Reconstruction of Superolateral Acetabular Defects Using Flying Buttress Porous Tantalum Augments During Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty

Porous tantalum augments are versatile tools in reconstructing complex acetabular defects during revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study examines the clinical and radiographic outcomes of porous tantalum augments placed in the type I (flying buttress) configuration at two to 17-year follow-up in the largest cohort to-date in the literature.

We retrospectively analyzed 59 consecutive revision THAs involving the use of flying buttress augments between 2003 and 2018. The mean patient age and follow-up duration were 63.9 ± 11.6 years (range, 35-87) and 8 years (range, 2-17), respectively. The Oxford hip score was used to assess clinical outcome. The modified Moore classification was used to assess acetabular augment and shell osseointegration. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess implant survivorship.

The mean Oxford hip score improved from 15.9 ± 6.2 preoperatively to 35.0 ± 6.5 at a mean follow-up of eight years (P < .0001). Radiographic assessment using the modified Moore classification demonstrated five signs of osseointegration in 49 hips (83.1%), four signs in six hips (10.2%), three signs in one hip (1.7%), and one sign in one hip (1.7%). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated ten-year survivorship of 88.9% (95% CI 74.4-95.4) with all-cause revision as end point and 94.3% (95% CI 83.1-98.2) with revision for acetabular aseptic loosening as end point.

Treatment of superolateral acetabular defects during revision THA using porous tantalum augments placed in the type I (flying buttress) configuration provides excellent implant survivorship and favorable clinical outcomes at mid-term follow-up.

Therapeutic Level IV.