When further implant surgery is not technically feasible, as may occur with long term sepsis and excessive bone loss, a Girdlestone’s excision arthroplasty may be done. This involves removal of components, allowing for the development of in-growth of fibrous tissue between the pelvis and femur.
In the case of an infected total hip replacement a staged revision may be performed. A modification of a Girdlestone’s procedure is then done, whereby a “cement spacer” is utilised as a false hip joint between the excision arthroplasty operation and the staged revision surgery performed at a later date. There are some cases where a single stage revision can be performed for sepsis of a total hip joint.