Analysis and results of dissociation of the polyethylene liner in the Harris-Galante I acetabular component.

The Harris-Galante I modular acetabular components (Zimmer, Warsaw, Ind) were most widely used in the 1980s in primary and revision total hip arthroplasty. We assessed 76 primary total hip arthroplasties performed using Harris-Galante I modular acetabular components. Dissociation of the polyethylene liner occurred in 5 patients and required revision surgery. None of the 76 hips had fractures of the metal locking tines on the metal shell. Liner dissociation was attributed to fatigue fracture of the polyethylene, a result of a gap between the liner and the metal shell. The thin polyethylene liner rim aggravated failure. The revision technique was to cement the polyethylene liner into the well-fixed Harris-Galante metal shell. The average follow-up observation period after revision surgery was 6.4 years; and there was no recurrence of dissociation, which supports the use of our revision technique.