Custom-made triflanged acetabular components in the treatment of major acetabular defects. Short-term results and clinical experience.

We report on the Belgian experience with the aMace® custom-made triflange acetabular component in revision total hip arthroplasty between September 2009 and November 2014. We focused on (1) the complexity of the preoperative planning and reimbursement procedure; (2) the surgical problems and operative experience; and (3) the early outcome. We collected 20 patients' reviews and 22 surgeons' reviews, with a mean follow-up of 25 months. The preoperative planning and reimbursement procedures were rated as time-consuming and cumbersome. In 6/22 cases, the operation was difficult or very difficult. Technical problems occurred in 8/22 cases, including problematic fitting in four. However, all aMace® components could be implanted successfully. The mean postoperative Harris Hip Score (HHS) was 68/100; patients' satisfaction was high and most patients experienced no or mild pain. Complications occurred in 8/22 cases, half of them dislocations. The aMace® implant can provide a solution for complex acetabular revisions. As dislocations were common, the use of dual-mobility cups should be considered. Because of the high cost and the lack of bone stock restoration, we suggest using custom-made triflange acetabular implants only in cases with large cavitational and segmental defects, which would be difficult to reconstruct with alternative methods.