Prosthetic replacement in secondary Girdlestone arthroplasty has an unpredictable outcome.

The functional outcome of hip replacement following a Girdlestone arthroplasty may be difficult to predict. We reviewed 39 hips in 39 patients with a minimum follow-up of 12 (range 12-208) months from re-implantation total hip arthroplasty. The patients were treated in one institution between 1983 and 2000, and their mean age at conversion was 65 (32-85) years.