Girdlestone arthroplasty for infected total hip arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Arthroplasty
• Infectious Disease Management

Background:

• Infected total hip arthroplasty presents a significant clinical challenge.
• Girdlestone resection arthroplasty is a salvage procedure used after infected total hip removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To further evaluate the functional salvage value of Girdlestone resection arthroplasty for infected total hip replacements.
• To assess long-term outcomes and patient satisfaction with this procedure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 14 additional patients undergoing Girdlestone resection arthroplasty for infected total hips.
• Re-evaluation of 21 previously studied patients for long-term functional data.
• Analysis of functional results and pain levels.

Main Results:

• Only one of the 14 reviewed patients achieved an acceptable functional result.
• Long-term functional outcomes for the initial 21 patients remained poor and comparable to the new cohort.
• Girdlestone resection arthroplasty generally yields suboptimal functional results and can be painful.

Conclusions:

• Girdlestone resection arthroplasty is a functionally poor salvage technique for infected total hip arthroplasty.
• While sometimes the best available option, outcomes are often unsatisfactory.
• Alternative procedures like prosthesis exchange, fusion, or osteotomy may be preferable, especially in younger patients.