Fifteen cases of elbow-joint ankylosis and nine cases of knee-joint ankylosis have been treated by the author's method. The principle employed is that of restoring function by the establishment of a simple ginglymus, in order to reduce the bone contact to a minimum. Further development follows the functional adaptation of the parts.
A satisfactory follow-up period, of more than five years in some cases, permits an evaluation of the end results. The arthroplasty itself is achieved more rapidly, is more reliable, and offers a greater amount of controlled voluntary motion than is obtained by other methods. Perhaps under conditions associated with war surgery, this technique may be accepted as a simple and effective method in the difficult field of arthroplasty.