Charnley's Hip Prosthesis

Abstract

When he sat the FRCS examination in 1951 Harold Ellis was advised that, if asked by the examiner, ‘What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip?‘, to reply, ‘Provide the patient with a walking stick and prescribe aspirin‘. The results of surgery for this condition at that time were pretty discouraging. Here, Professor Ellis outlines the development of this surgical technique.