Reconstruction of the hypoplastic acetabulum in cementless arthroplasty of the hip.

We describe a new operative technique for reconstruction of deficient acetabular bone which allows the implantation of the socket of a total hip replacement at the level of the true acetabulum. The results of 61 such operations in 50 patients are reviewed. The average follow up was 45 months (minimum 36 months). All grafts had united by 6 months and there was no failure of the bone grafts or acetabular loosening. The clinical results are encouraging. Special attention is paid to the use of an L-shaped graft taken from the femoral head and neck.