Evaluation of Case Material

Abstract

Prerequisite to an objective and critical examination of the results of the HA operations carried out in our clinic from 1961–1971 were:

• — Extensive study of the case histories and radiographs

• — Completion of an extensive questionnaire by all our postoperative patients

• — Personal examination of the majority of patients (more than 300), particularly those who were dissatisfied or only partially satisfied with the final results of HA or in whom adequate clinical and radiological evidence of complete bone union had not been obtained. Particularly worthy of mention is the readiness of patients to cooperate in the study. In more than 80% of the cases, the 41 questions were very extensively and accurately answered. Only 58 questionnaires (11.9%) were not returned. In addition, the patients readily attended the clinic for follow- up examinations. Only one patient, an anxious individual whose HA had probably ended in PA, failed to attend for follow-up despite repeated requests (Table 8).