Girdlestone Arthroplasty for Infected Total Hip Arthroplasty

Comparison of the results of the Girdlestone pseudarthrosis with reimplantation of a total hip replacement

“…Adequate relief of pain is usually achieved with a Girdlestone pseudarthrosis [2,12] and any sepsis around a hip replacement is well controlled in most cases [6]. Although this procedure may be the only possible treatment, the results are far from ideal [5].…”

“…The pseudarthrosis is likely to be painless, or only slightly painful, but the patient has to accept the inevitable shortening of the leg and instability of the hip, with consequent dependence on walking aids [2,6,12].…”

Successful salvage of an unstable Girdlestone's excision arthroplasty with a megaprosthesis of the hip

“…Although it is considered to be an effective means of eradicating infection and alleviating pain, still the patient satisfaction and complications related to this surgery are not well highlighted. 6,7 The main problems related to this procedure include walking difficulties, residual shortening and instability etc. 8 The walking after excision arthroplasty is not only difficult but ungainly too.…”

Hip arthroplasty infection: Current concepts

“…Some studies indicate that there is less fistulation in patients with all cement removed at revision (Fitzgerald 1986, Kantor et al 19861, and other studies that the healing rate is the same with bone cement left (Canner et al 1984). Most of the patients are not satisfied, because function is usually poor (Clegg 1977, Hunter and Dandy 1977, Bittar and Petty 1982, Hamblen and Fischer 1983, McElwaine and Colville 1984, Kantor et al 1986). Shortening has been reported to be on an average 5 cm, with positive Trendelenburg instability and pain (Bittar and Petty 1982).…”

“…Most of the patients are not satisfied, because function is usually poor (Clegg 1977, Hunter and Dandy 1977, Bittar and Petty 1982, Hamblen and Fischer 1983, McElwaine and Colville 1984, Kantor et al 1986). Shortening has been reported to be on an average 5 cm, with positive Trendelenburg instability and pain (Bittar and Petty 1982). Traction has been recommended for the first 2 weeks (Kantor et al 1986).…”