Pseudotumor and Subsequent Implant Loosening as a Complication of Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty with Ceramic-on-Metal Bearing: A Case Report

Pseudotumors are not uncommon complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and may occur due to differences in bearing surfaces of the head and the liner ranging from soft to hard articulation. The most common causes of pseudotumors are foreign-body reaction, hypersensitivity and wear debris. The spectrum of pseudotumor presentation following THA varies greatly-from completely asymptomatic to clear implant failure. We report a case of pseudo-tumor formation with acetabular cup aseptic loosening after revision ceramic-on-metal hip arthroplasty. The patient described herein underwent pseudotumor excision and re-revision complex arthroplasty using a trabecular metal shell and buttress with ceramic-on-polyethylene THA. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of a pseudotumor when dealing with revisions to help prevent rapid progression of cup loosening and implant failure, and should intervene early to avoid complex arthroplasty procedures.