Girdlestone operation. An acceptable alternative in the case of unreconstructable hip arthroplasty.

Between 1970 and 1984, 1250 total hip arthroplasties using methylmethacrylate bone cement were performed at the Department of Surgery, University of Turku, Finland. Girdlestone arthroplasty was performed in nine women and one man in ten cases of failed arthroplasty. In general, the results were evaluated as good. The patients were satisfied, and they had no pain or only slight or occasional pain on weight bearing. Nine of ten patients could walk, two of them without any walking aids. In conclusion, the Girdlestone operation can offer an acceptable functional result when reconstruction of the hip joint is not possible.