The initial stability of cemented acetabular cups can be augmented by mixing morsellized bone grafts with tricalciumphosphate/hydroxyapatite particles in bone impaction grafting

Tricalciumphosphate (TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) have been suggested as bone graft substitutes in a wide range of applications. In this study, the initial stability of cemented acetabular cups was determined after reconstructing a combined cavitary and segmental defect in a realistic acetabular revision surgery model. The defects were reconstructed with mixes of TCP/HA particles and human bone grafts using the bone impaction grafting technique. in comparison with defect reconstruction with human bone grafts only, cup translation and tilt decreased by 27% when mixes of bone grafts and porous TCP/HA particles were used and by 55% when mixing the bone grafts with solid TCP/HA particles. Increasing the TCP/HA ratio within the mix significantly decreased cup translation. From a biomechanical perspective, mixes of TCP/HA particles and bone grafts are an attractive alternative for morsellized bone grafts when using the bone impaction grafting technique in the reconstruction of large defects of the acetabulum. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.