Radiographic assessment of acetabular cup orientation. A new design concept.

An acetabular cup with a 270 degree rim wire has been designed to assist in the radiographic assessment of acetabular cup orientation in total hip arthroplasty. A study was conducted analyzing the component in various positions of lateral opening and version with three different X-ray-beam centering positions. The 270 degree acetabular rim wire allowed for easy and accurate assessment of component orientation when the pelvis was level and the central ray of the X-ray beam was centered over the hip.