EVALUATION OF THE FUNCTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS SUBMITTED TO GIRDLESTONE’S RESECTION ARTHROPLASTY priscilA AKemi yAmAmoto1, gisele lAndim lAHoz2, edmilson tAKeHiro tAKAtA3, dAnilo mAsiero4, tHerezinHA

INTRODUCTION Girdlestone’s arthroplasty was first performed and documented by Schmalz (1817) and White (1821) to treat children with coxofemoral joint tuberculosis(1-3). In 1928, Girdlestone briefly described this procedure, using it for treating hip tuberculosis(4) and later, in 1943, Girdlestone globally disseminated this technique as a solution for treating septic and tuberculous hip pathologies(2, 4-6). In 1960, with the development of hip replacement arthroplasty, resection arthroplasties were progressively left aside(3). Today, the Girdlestone’s resection arthroplasty (GRA) is employed as a salvage procedure in cases of failure and/ or infection of total hip prostheses (THP)(1-3,5,7-18), serious hip sepsis(9,17,19) and previous surgical failures, in which the bones cannot afford to undergo a surgical procedure preserving joint functional anatomy(2,6,7,16,20). Currently, the term “Girdlestone Hip” is applied to the condition in which patients who had their prostheses removed are found(21). The main objectives of this procedure are to promote pain relief(7,8,13,22,23), improve patient’s function(7,8,23), eradicate infection (when present)(22,23) and promote satisfaction(23). The advantages of this technique include the following: it can be used in cases where other kinds of arthroplasties are contraindicated; it provides long-term results, and; it may subsequently be converted into HTP(3,24). However, some authors