Debonding of the Acetabular Porous Coating of A Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty: A Case Report

We report an unusual case of loosening of the acetabular component of a hip resurfacing arthroplasty due to debonding of the titanium surface coating from the acetabular shell.

A 41-year-old male scaffolder had bilateral hip resurfacings in 2006. These initially functioned well. At 54 months he was found to have migration of the acetabular component on the right side. This was subsequently revised to a cemented total hip arthroplasty. Debonding of the surface coating was suspected on radiographs prior to the revision procedure, and was confirmed intraoperatively.