Early failure of hylamer acetabular inserts due to eccentric wear

The authors performed a retrospective review of the survivorship of Hylamer (DePuy Dupont Orthopaedics, Warsaw, IN) acetabular liners following primary arthroplasty of the acetabulum. Between 1990 and 1992, 193 total hip arthroplasties were performed in which Hylamer acetabular liners were implanted. One hundred forty-three of these hips (74%) were available for clinical and radiographic follow-up evaluation after a minimum of 2 years. The mean follow-up period was 2.5 years. Five Hylamer liners have been revised for eccentric wear at a mean of 37 months postimplantation and one additional liner is scheduled to be revised at the 34-month follow-up evaluation (total, 4.2% failure rate due to wear). Survivorship of the Hylamer liner, with failure defined as revision due to eccentric wear, was calculated to be 86% (SE, 5.5%) at 4 years. The authors have discontinued the use of Hylamer acetabular liners because of this high early failure rate.