Patient-specific 3D-printed hemipelvis model for cup re-revision: a case report
Abstract
Early repeated acetabular cup failure after total hip arthroplasty is uncommon and may be a severe reconstructive problem, particularly when cement, graft material, and bone loss make imaging difficult to interpret. We report the case of a 59-year-old woman referred after two early acetabular failures within 1 month of primary total hip arthroplasty. Radiographs and computed tomography showed loosening of the acetabular component-cement construct and a Paprosky type IIIA defect. A life-size patient-specific three-dimensional printed hemipelvis model was obtained from computed tomography data in 4 days and used to analyze bone loss, identify landmarks, estimate cup size, and plan screw trajectories. Acetabular re-revision was performed through a posterolateral approach using impaction bone grafting, a multi-hole press-fit cup with supplemental screws and a structural posterosuperior allograft. At 2-year follow-up, the patient was pain-free, walked unaided, and showed graft osseointegration without radiographic loosening. This case suggests that patient-specific three-dimensional printed models may be a practical adjunct for selected urgent acetabular re-revisions, translating complex imaging into a reproducible surgical plan with standard revision components.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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© © Ortopedici Traumatologi Ospedalieri d’Italia (O.T.O.D.i.) , 2026
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