Girdlestone procedure for avascular necrosis of the hip in an intravenous drug user

The Girdlestone procedure is an excision arthroplasty of the hip. Rarely used nowadays, it was required in a young patient following discovery of avascular necrosis of the femoral head as a result of septic emboli from infective endocarditis in an intravenous drug user. This procedure was deemed necessary based on poor cardiac function and anaesthetic risk. During this case report we will discuss investigations performed, the procedure and post-procedure course.