Total hip replacement (THR) has been shown to be of great benefit in decreasing pain from osteoarthritis of the hip, and the side on which the THR is camed out will become the main weight bearing limb. We radiogrophically studied eleven patients with bilateral osteoarthritis of the hip treated by unilateral THR. Loosening of the cup became worse five years post-operatively, and progression was seen on the stem side after seven years. The loosening stage tended to increase after five years more in study subjects than in controls. Joint spaces on the contralateral side were reformed in five cases. We concluded that the THR side becomes the main weight bearing limb and bilateral treatment will be required.
