The present project was undertaken in an attempt to analyse factors associated with clinical failure (defined as indication for rearthroplasty) of total hip arthroplasties when radiographic loosening of the femoral component was present. Out of 79 radiographically loose femoral components the rate of failure was 23 per cent. High viscosity bone cement was negatively correlated to clinical failure whereas male sex and high body weight was positively correlated to clinical failure. Signs of loosening appearing early in the period of observation significantly more often led to clinical failure than late appearance of loosening, which was encouraging for the long-term prognosis.