Multidetector-CT Evaluation of Bone Substitutes Remodeling after Revision Hip Surgery

We evaluated remodeling of grafted bone substitutes after revision hip arthroplasty using serial examinations of multidetector-row computed tomography imaging. Ten patients (12 hips) had cementless revision surgery with grafting of beta-tricalcium phosphate granules and pastelike calcium phosphate cement in bone defects around the femoral component. At 3 weeks and 1 year postoperatively, the patients were evaluated using multidetector-row computed tomography imaging with a metal artifact minimizing protocol. New bone formation and changes in volume of beta-tricalcium phosphate and calcium phosphate cement were measured. At 1 year postoperatively, beta-tricalcium phosphate had decreased more than calcium phosphate cement. The residual volumes of calcium phosphate cement and beta-tricalcium phosphate were 78% (range, 37%-96%) and 30% (range, 10%-62%) of the initial grafted volume, respectively. The volume of the new bone that formed after absorption of beta- tricalcium phosphate was 34% (range, 11%-76%) of the initial beta-tricalcium phosphate volume. Use of cement in prior operations was an unfavorable factor in graft remodeling after revision surgery. Multidetector-row computed tomography is a promising tool for evaluating bone stock restoration of patients and influential factors of bone remodeling, and for clarifying remodeling patterns of various bone substitutes.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.