title: Benefits of using modern cementing techniques in the acetabulum: the Rim Cutter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare radiological records of 90 consecutive patients who underwent cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) with or without use of the Rim Cutter to prepare the acetabulum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The acetabulum of 45 patients was prepared using the Rim Cutter, whereas the device was not used in the other 45 patients. Postoperative radiographs were evaluated using a digital templating system to measure (1) the positions of the operated hips with respect to the normal, contralateral hips (the centre of rotation of the socket, the height of the centre of rotation from the teardrop, and lateralisation of the centre of rotation from the teardrop) and (2) the uniformity and width of the cement mantle in the 3 DeLee Charnley acetabular zones, and the number of radiolucencies in these zones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group showed improved radiological parameters and were closer to the anatomic centre of rotation both vertically (1.5 vs. 3.7 mm, p<0.001) and horizontally (1.8 vs. 4.4 mm, p<0.001) and had consistently thicker and more uniform cement mantles (p<0.001). There were 2 radiolucent lines in the control group but none in the study group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Rim Cutter resulted in more accurate placement of the centre of rotation of a cemented prosthetic socket, and produced a thicker, more congruent cement mantle with fewer radiolucent lines.
authors.affiliation: Athens Military Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyros N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Darmanis
authors.forename: Matthew J W
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hubble
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.forename: A John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Timperley
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D002484:Cementation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography