Results of acetabular wiremesh and autograft in protrusio acetabuli.

Between 1990 and 2005, 25 acetabular reconstructions in 25 patients were performed using autogenous morcellized bone-graft and acetabular wiremesh due to acetabular bone stock loss. The most frequent preoperative diagnosis in our patients were severe hip arthrosis (50%), and rheumatoid arthritis (15%).The mean follow up was 8.6 years (range 2-15 years). The most frequent long-term complication was the appearence of radiolucent lines.A cemented acetabular cup was used in all cases. Preoperative mean Harris Hip Score was 42.3, rising to 90.6 at follow-up after surgery. None of the patients had any loosening of the acetabular component and only one had radiolucent lines >2mm which did not progress. Kohler's line remained intact in all cases.Results of this study suggests bone-grafting and acetabular wiremesh is an effective and simple method to arrest the progresion of acetabular protrusio.