Abstract
We performed arthrodesis with a cobra head compression plate in 18 young adults with severely degenerative arthritis of the hip. The aetiology was trauma in 4 patients, sepsis in 3, slipped upper femoral epiphysis in 3, Perthes disease in one, acute lymphblastic lymphoma in one, alcohol related avascular necrosis in 2, epiphyseal dysplasia in one, multiple osteochondromatosis in one, (bilateral) idiopathic chondrolysis in one and in the remaining case there was no apparent cause. At a mean follow up of 4 years 14 patients were complaining of back pain compared to 4 patients preoperatively. Preoperatively 4 patients had ipsilateral knee pain compared to 5 patients postoperatively. Four patients complained of pain at rest or night. Eleven of the 18 patients have returned to work. The average score of satisfaction on a scale of zero to ten was 7.2, with only 3 patients giving a mark of 4 and below.
The management of osteoarthritis of the hip in the young adult is challenging and arthrodesis of the hip is a reasonable option for the very painful arthritic hip.
The abstracts were prepared by Peter Kay. Correspondence should be addressed to him at Centre for Hip Surgery, Wrightington Hospital, Appley Bridge, Wigan WN6 9EP.
