Experiences with the resection of the femoral head as a treatment of bilateral coxarthrosis.

Between 1971 and 1974 we resected 16 femoral heads in 14 patients and followed the results after 6-9 years. The surgical indication was a bilateral elevated trochanter with severe acetabular and pelvic dysplasia. In these cases we are not only confronted with the well known complication in endoprosthetic replacement using bone cement but additionally with a difference in leg length. The resection resulted into pain elimination during the night in all cases and during daily weight bearing in all but 4 patients. The patients' walking ability and their range of motion could also be improved at least to a certain extent.