Girdlestone arthroplasty is currently used as a generic term to describe any surgical procedure about the hip joint, either primary or secondary, that involves excision of the femoral head and neck and results in a pseudarthrosis of the joint. The most common indication for the procedure in contemporary Western practice is as a definitive or interval operation for the management of an infected hip prosthesis.1–6 Less common indications include septic arthritis,7 aseptic loosening of a hip prosthesis where further reconstruction is not considered,8 cerebral palsy or other chronic neurologic conditions with chronic hip dislocation and, rarely, certain tumor resections in the region of the hip joint. Prior to the emergence of total hip replacement as the treatment of choice for advanced degenerative arthritis of the hip joint, satisfactory results were reported following management by joint resection, especially in cases with markedly reduced joint mobility and fixed contractures.9 In countries with limited medical facilities and funding, resection arthroplasty remains a treatment option, albeit not ideal, for femoral neck fractures and degenerative hip joint disease.10