Reconstruction of the acetabular wall with bone graft in arthroplasty of the hip.

The fate of autologous bone grafts under a layer of methylmethacrylate cement, previously investigated in dogs, was observed in eight patients. The grafts were incorporated into the acetabular bone within six to ten months. Reinforcement of the inadequate acetabulum with autologous bone graft is necessary in order to withstand the long-term repetitive loading in patients with total hip arthroplasties. Reconstruction of the medial acetabular wall (using autologous bone chips), combined with fixation of the socket with methylmethacrylate, was successful in all eight patients with a follow-up period of two to six years.