Massive Pseudotumor in a 28mm Ceramic-Polyethylene Revision THA: A Case Report

Abstract

This report reviews the findings of a massive pseudotumor detected pre-operatively in a 13-year-old revision total hip arthroplasty. The case is unique in that the bearing involved was a 28mm zirconia ceramic head on a polyethylene liner. We propose that the pseudotumor arose from ultrafine titanium particles liberated from the proximal porous coating of the femoral stem. We suspect that the osteolysis produced from polyethylene wear exposed the proximal porous coating and, via a process of mechanical abrasion with the surrounding soft tissues, liberated ultrafine titanium particles. We believe the pseudotumor formed because the patient was pre-sensitized to metal debris based upon a pre-operative lymphocyte T-cell proliferation test (LTT). Based upon this unique case, we feel that pseudotumors more likely form when there is a high rate of ultrafine metal particles generated in a pre-sensitized patient. Finally, we introduce what we believe are the main biologic wear responses in THA. Further research is needed to validate this proposed model. Keywords: pseudotumor, ceramic, polyethylene, osteolysis, THA, bearing wear eesponse, titanium debris Level of Evidence: AAOS Therapeutic Study Level IV