Two hundred consecutive primary total hip arthroplasties (196 patients) carried out between January 1994 and May 1995 using the Elite Plus cemented femoral components (DePuy International, Leeds, UK) were enrolled in a prospective study. Fifteen patients were lost to follow-up. The patients were evaluated clinically using the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and radiographically. The mean HHS was raised from 39.3 preoperatively to 89.6 at 5 years. Radiologically the mean femoral subsidence was 1.40 mm at 5 years. The mean annual rate of re-operation was 0.2%. There were no revisions for aseptic loosening. In the present series, the Elite Plus hip arthroplasty has produced clinical and radiological results, which are comparable with the Charnley hip at five years.