Chronic arthritis of the hip is a variable disease. While an arthroplasty may furnish a satisfactory answer for specific hip problems, it is not a cure. Cure of this disease must await a better understanding of the etiology. Despite intensive research being devoted to this aspect of the problem, it is obvious that this goal will not be reached for some time to come. Until then, hip arthroplasty will continue to be a useful tool in the management of pain, stiffness, deformity, and instability associated with chronic arthritis of the hip.