CHARNLEY-LOW-FRICTION-ARTHROPLASTY IN YOUNG-PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS - A 12-YEAR TO 24-YEAR CLINICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF 84 CASES

The long term outcome of 84 Charnley low friction arthroplasties perfo rmed between January 1973 and December 1984 on 69 patients (84 hips) w ith osteoarthritis was assessed, The patients were 55 years old or you nger (mean, 46 years) at the time of surgery, The probability of survi val was 89.8% (range, 85.9%-93.7%) after 10 years with 69 hips at risk and 73.3% (range, 65.5%-81.1%) after 18 years with 33.5 hips at risk, Of the 84 hips in the study, 24 (28.6%) failed, Of the hips that surv ived, clinical results were good and excellent with Charnley scores of four or more for pain and function in all hips, Of the hips that surv ived, 93.3% achieved good or excellent results for movement.