A total of 51 patients with bilateral simultaneous Charnley total hip arthr
oplasties were studied for wear behavior. The mean observation time was 14.
7 years. Fourteen hips had been revised during follow-up. The mean wear rat
e was 0.071 mm/y for left hips and 0.081 mm/y for right hips. There were co
nsiderable side differences tor individual patients and little agreement be
tween the wear measurements of left and right hips. Linear wear was increas
ed in men, in patients with high body weight. Linear wear after hip arthrop
lasty is nor side related.