Hip Arthrodesis

Abstract

Hip arthrodesis is still an accepted method for preventing pain in selected cases in young adults. However, it became less popular in the last decade due to improvements in arthroplasty techniques. 32 patients who had gone under hip arthrodesis were retrospecitvely studied. Mean age was 33 years and the mean follow up period was 54 months. There were 25 secondary osteoarthritis, 6 tuberculosis arthritis and 1 osteoblastoma of the femoral neck. The types of arthrodesis were; combined technique in 1, Schneider technique in 16, Smith Petersen nail in 10, Steinmann nail in 4 and four cancellous screws in 1 of the patients. The position of the fusion was 25-30 degrees flexion, 0-5 degrees adduction, 0-15 degrees external rotation. External immobilisation after operation was utilised in 16 patients. Plain AP x-ray films, pain, limp and activity levels were evaluated in the follow-up. As a result we concluded that the Schneider technique was a reliable method for hip arthrodesis, and that, even for the young patient arthroplasty was a more easily accepted method, as it provided motion and improved quality of life.