Prosthetic femoral head erosion through an acetabular component treated with revision and implant preservation

We present a case report of the rare complication of a femoral head prosthesis eroding through the acetabular liner and shell resulting in a clinical presentation of pseudo-dislocation. The patient presented with a 1-month history of progressive anterior and peritrochanteric hip pain without antecedent trauma. Radiographs demonstrated presumed hip dislocation with superior-posterior superimposition of the femoral head over the acetabular component. The patient underwent revision total hip arthroplasty with intraoperative evidence of extensive metallosis, osteolysis, and femoral head erosion through the acetabular polyethylene liner, acetabular shell, and implantation into the ilium. The femoral stem and acetabular shell were well-fixed, allowing for filling of the defect with bone void filler and cementation of a new polyethylene liner into the acetabular shell.