[Osteoplastic hip buttress in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip].

The results of 40 acetabuloplasties of the hip for osteoarthritis have been studied over a follow-up period of 6 months to 7 years. 12 patients have been treated by shelf arthroplasty alone and 26 by the same operation combined with intertrochanteric osteotomy. These operations, which are suitable for use in patients too young for a total hip prosthesis, give very satisfactory results in 80% of the cases, but the patients must be carefully selected. The clinical and radiological criteria on which this choice is based, and the technical peculiarities of the operation, are described.