Hip fusion utilizing the cobra head plate

Sixteen consecutive patients underwent hip fusion with fixation by a cobra head compression plate. In six patients on osteotomy of the innominate bone also was done. Four patients had no osteotomy whatsoever, while in six patients medial displacement of the femur was accomplished by centrally dislocating the femoral head through the acetabulum. This modification made the surgical procedure and postoperative care simpler, and rehabilitation was easily accomplished. All of the hips treated in this series had successful bone fusion. All of the patients were out of bed within the first postoperative week, and ambulation with crutches was begun after the second week.