From our first 186 Charnley hip replacements 125, retained for more than 10 years, were examined clinically and radiographically. There were radiographic signs of definite or probable loosening of one or both prosthetic components in 29 per cent of the hips. However, there was a poor correlation between the clinical and the radiographic results, as 86 per cent of the hips were free from significant pain. The loosening rate for males under 60 years of age at the time of the operation was four times higher than for females in the same age group. We suggest that this high-risk group should be followed radiographically, so that a revision, if necessary, can be considered while the bone stock is still sufficient.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.