[Hip arthrodesis possibly less effective in the long term than total hip prosthesis]

Hip arthrodesis used to be the operation that was performed when unbearable pain due to osteoarthritis or necrosis of the hip occurred. After the introduction of the total hip prosthesis, hip arthrodesis disappeared almost completely. When the disadvantages of the total hip prosthesis became clear, in particular the limited survival of these prostheses, hip arthrodesis became an alternative to prosthetic hip replacement in younger patients, for example. Although the results of primary hip prostheses are good and the survival of the prosthesis in the elderly is high, in younger patients the survival of hip prostheses is significantly lower. It is difficult to conclude if there is still an indication for hip arthrodesis. From the patient's perspective, social impairments such as difficulties in sitting and a reduced ability to walk for any distance, the prospect of back pain and/or ipsilateral knee pain, the choice for a primary total hip prosthesis would seem more logical.