[The problem of acetabular loosening in patients with total hip joint replacement (author's transl)]

Recently aseptic loosining of the acetabular part in patients with allo-arthroplasty has also become a numerically increasing problem. Different opinions exist regarding the etiology, they range from mechanical to tissue factors. Favourable personal experience with careful handling of the bony acetabulum during surgery appeares to confirm that the size and type of treatment of the acetabular wound during implantation of the acetabular prosthesis are significant factors for the durability of the allo-arthroplasty. A formula which was compiled indicates and clearly shows how the increase in area of the acetabular wound depends on the increase of the acetabular radius. In addition, the laws of cellular reaction from general pathology should be the reason to limit damage to living tissue to the absolutly necessary extent.