Prosthetic implant and surgical tool

A surgical tool for gripping a protected acetabular hip prosthesis for implantation in a surgically prepared socket in a hip of a patient, the protected acetabular hip prosthesis comprising a generally cup-shaped metal body which has an outer generally convex surface and a cavity defining a mouth, a protective cap over the mouth of the cavity, and a closed loop of filamentary member secured to the acetabular hip prosthesis, the tool comprising an elongate body having a first end for engagement with the protective cap and means for engaging and tightening of the closed loop of filamentary member so as to locate the protective cap against the first end of the tool and to draw the acetabular hip prosthesis towards the first end surface thereby to hold the prosthetic implant securely on the first end of the tool during surgical implantation of the acetabular hip prosthesis, the tool and protective cap being removable after such surgical implantation by loosening the tension in the closed loop of filamentary member and then severing the closed loop of filamentary member to allow it to be disengaged from the implanted acetabular hip prosthesis.