Girdlestone Resection Arthroplasty of the Hip
A Girdlestone procedure is sometimes used to treat patients with infected hip replacements.
In the event that a hip arthroplasty (or hip replacement surgery) leaves a patient with an infection that doesn’t respond well to antibiotics, debridement and other forms of treatment, another surgical procedure may be needed. Girdlestone resection arthroplasty of the hip is considered a last resort, but it is effective at providing pain relief for patients who undergo the procedure.
Conditions Treated by Girdlestone Procedure
The ultimate goal of a Girdlestone procedure is to get relief for patients who are experiencing severe hip pain but cannot undergo a total hip replacement. It is also used when a patient is affected by tumors in the area, or for non-ambulatory patients (often with cerebral palsy) dealing with a dislocated hip.Procedure Details
In a Girdlestone procedure, a surgeon will simply remove the affected femoral head and neck of the thigh bone (femur). Some patients who have previously had a hip replacement will be able to retain their prosthetic spacers, but this is not always possible.What to Expect
Girdlestone resection arthroplasty of the hip will cause shortening of the affected leg, often by several inches, and patients who undergo the procedure will not be able to walk unassisted. As such, this is considered a “salvage” procedure meant only to improve one’s quality of life by way of providing pain relief.
Risks of this procedure include those common with any surgery:
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Anesthesia-related complications
- Post-surgical bleeding
Effectiveness of the Girdlestone Procedure
Following Girdlestone resection arthroplasty of the hip, the majority of patients will experience pain relief and healing of their infections. The experts at Tampa General Hospital’s Orthopedic Institute use cutting-edge technology to provide world-class treatment for patients with hip conditions that require a Girdlestone procedure or other forms of hip surgery.