The UCLA Charnley experience: A long-term follow-up study using survival analysis

During the period between February 1970 and December 1973, 149 Charnley total hip arthroplasties were performed at UCLA Medical Center. Fifty-seven percent have a follow-up period of at least four years, and 21% have a follow-up period of ten years or more. The peri- and postoperative complication rate was high, with an incidence of 32.6% urinary tract infection (UTI), 4% peroneal nerve palsy, 4% cardiopulmonary, 2% pulmonary embolism, 1.3% myocardial infarction, and 6.0% other. Eleven patients (7.3%) required revision at a mean of 75 months after operation, while an additional three patients were experiencing substantial pain. Clinical improvement after this procedure is similar to that reported by other authors. Survivorship analysis suggests that being young and/or having a diagnosis of osteonecrosis or failed hemiarthroplasty places a patient at a higher risk of failure due to revision surgery or pain.