[Total hip prosthesis according to Charnley. Review of our cases]

This is a follow-up study of 363 Charnley hip replacements out of 548 implanted from 1970 to June 1984. Clinical results, with a 2-year minimum follow-up (average 5 years, maximum 15 years) are excellent or good in 89.5% of the cases. In the group with minimum 5-year follow-up (average 7, maximum 15 years) the clinical results remain good to excellent in 89.2% of the cases. Radiographic results have been studied in the group with minimum 5-year follow-up. Component stability or radiographic loosening have been studied, taking into account the presence of radiolucent lines between bone and cement, between metal and cement, or based on component migration or positional shift. We have detected radiographic loosening in 11.5% of the acetabular and 13.5% of the femoral components. A correlation was sought between radiographic loosening and some clinical (diagnosis, weight, follow-up period) and radiographic (postoperative component position, polyethylene wear, cement technique, periosteal reaction, myositis ossificans) parameters. There is no strong relationship between radiographic loosening and clinical results, as 28 of 35 radiographically loose prostheses maintained excellent or good results. Finally, the results of a selected group of 29 hips, with a minimum follow-up of 10 years, is reported.