To assess the mode of a polyethylene liner failure in total hip replacement using a Harris-Galante II acetabular component.

A retrospective review was performed and 128 consecutive primary total hip arthroplasties were analyzed in 111 patients who had a second-generation Harris-Galante cup. All patients were followed up for a minimum of five years, with a mean follow up of 7.4 years (range, 5 to 12.9 years). A total of 26 cups (20.2%) were revised at the time of the latest follow up. The medical records, radiographs, surgical notes, and retrieved components were analyzed in order to determine the precise causes of the revision.

Twenty-two cases (17.3%) were found to have experienced problems with the polyethylene liner. Three types of liner failure were identified; metallosis associated with polyethylene liner wear (14 cases), excessive wear without metallosis necessitating a revision (6 cases), and polyethylene liner dissociation without gross evidence of wear (2 cases).

This study find that polyethylene liner failure is the main cause of the revision of this component. Early surgical intervention needs to be performed before fatal metal damage occurs in order to avoid metallosis, and severe bone stock damage in cases of excessive polyethylene wear.