Background: In developing countries hip osteoarthritis constitutes a major public health issue as it is highly prevalent in all\r\nage ranges of population, including the young. It often remains untreated because of the low accessibility of total hip\r\nprostheses. Hip arthrodesis still represents a major treatment option, but, for several reasons which are discussed in this\r\npaper, is nowadays infrequently performed. By means of reporting the results of a new simple technique, using a selfdevised\r\nplate, the relevancy of hip arthrodesis in this particular environment is emphasized.\r\nMethods and Findings: Our series included 35 patients with painful hip osteoarthritis who underwent a hip fusion with the\r\nanterolateral arthrodesis plate. Two of them had a concurrent femoral osteotomy for correction of a vicious position of the\r\nlimb and another patient had a femoral diaphysis osteotomy and placement of a Wagner elongating device in order to\r\nproceed with a limb lengthening by callotasis. The follow-up period averaged 16,9 months (9 to 34). All hips, except two,\r\nachieved solid fusion between 6 and 15 months after surgery. One failure of fusion was in the oldest patient, who presented\r\na loosening of plate and screws due to an advanced degree of osteoporosis; the other was in a young patient who admitted\r\nhaving walked on his leg too soon. Patient satisfaction was high. We concluded that this technique is reliable and effective.\r\nConclusions: The results of this study should convince the hesitant surgeon and patient to consider hip arthrodesis an\r\nacceptable treatment option for disabling hip arthritis, compared to no treatment at all.
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