REPLACEMENT OF DEFICIENT ACETABULUM USING BURCH-SCHNEIDER CAGES - 22 PATIENTS FOLLOWED FOR 2-10 YEARS

The absence of good bone stock with massive acetabular deficiency has been a major problem in both revsion hip arthroplasty and in primary a rthroplasty for congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH). 22 patients ( 24 hips; 21 revision and 3 primary replacements; mean age 58 years) wi th substantial bone loss underwent acetabular reinforcement with Burch -Schneider cages. Classification of acetabular deficiency was made acc ording to the AAOS system. The surgical procedure involved preparation of acetabulum, filling the defect with bone autografts, placement of the cage with its flanges, fixation with screws on the lateral wall on ly and placement of a cement and plastic cup. Radiographic loosening w ith breakage of the screws was observed in only 1 patient. After a mea n follow-up of 8 (2-10) years, good stability was acheived in all pati ents and no mechanical failure was observed. Satisfactory results were observed in all but one of the cases, indicating that effective suppo rt of the acetabulum can be achieved using Burch-Schneider cages.