Among the reconstructive operations used for disabilities of the hip joint is resection of the proximal femoral end. The results of this procedure were evaluated by Batchelor,1 Guilleminet,4 Herbert,5 Hudson,6 Mathieu,7 Milch,8 and Soren9,10 who reported satisfactory relief from pain and increased mobility in more than 65% of the cases. However, a significant shortcoming of this operation was instability of the hip.
Material and Methods
The mechanics of the surgically altered hip joints and the action of the hip musculature were evaluated in 82 patients (five of whom had both hips operated on) in order to determine the cause of the postoperative instability. The range of active and passive motion of the hip joint, the ambulatory endurance, and the stability at stance and gait were clinically tested. The coaptation of the articulating surfaces, the areas of contact, and the site of their mechanical