Cement Fixation of the Acetabular Cup in Total Hip Replacement: Are 10 mm-Depth Anchorage Holes Required?

Abstract

Abstract Long-term studies have shown that failure of the acetabular component in a total hip replacement increases exponentially ten years following surgery (Morscher, 1992). During the cemented fixation of the acetabular cup in a total hip replacement, anchorage holes are drilled in the acetabulum in order to increase the torsional resistance of cement bonding. So far, there seems to be no definite number, size, shape, location and depth of the anchorage holes. Usually, the depth is 10mm, the edge is 90°, while the number and size of holes are interrelated; the smaller the diameter of the hole, the larger the number of holes are drilled and vice versa.