Hip arthrodesis has been performed on a total of 46 cases at this hospital during the last 10 years. Of this number, 32 in whom more than 1 year has elapsed since operation were directly examined. Distribution of the ages at the time of surgery showed that those in their forties were most predominant includiug 12 cases, and that the youngest was 15 while the oldest was 55, with a mean of 38 years. The period of follow-up ranged from the minimum of 1 year and 6 months to maximum of 10 years with a mean of 4 years and 2 months.
All of them have obtained bony union and relief from pain. Majority of patients could do their daily activities without gross troubles, except for squatting, going up and down stairs, Japanese sitting and cutting their toe nails. Low back pain and the knee joint flexion contraction after surgery greatly hinder the daily activities. It was concluded that in cases with bilateral involvement, consideration must be given to age of the patient and range of both hip joints and knee joints, and prudence should be exercised in determining the indication.
