Long-term follow-up of Charnley arthroplasty of the hip.

A review of 11.5 year (average interval) follow-up examination of 409 low friction arthroplasties performed included only 3 late failures. The excellent results of the successes have been fully maintained for as long as 14 years. This was true with regard to pain, function of walking and mobility. Resorption of the calcar femorale was rare and no correlation was found with the wear of the socket. The average wear of 1.5 mm was less than predicted by Professor Sir John Charnley. Although 10 patients (7.8%) had excessive wear no patient is at present near the stage of requiring replacement of the socket for this reason. No adverse reaction was found to the implant or the cement.