Abstract
1. Nine out of ten patients who undergo McMurray osteotomy may expect lasting relief of pain. Seventy-five per cent should have a satisfactory functional result. It is rare for a patient to be made worse.
2. Osteoarthritis of the hip and ununited fracture of the femoral neck are good reasons for operation; avascular necrosis after fracture is not.
3. Internal fixation shortens the time in plaster and in hospital, and reduces the incidence of stiffness of the knee.
4. The common observation that the joint space may be increased after osteotomy is due often to the altered position of the femoral head. Occasionally there occurs a true increase in joint space, presumably indicating regeneration of articular cartilage, and an accompanying regression in the changes of osteoarthritis.
