OBJECTIVE To analyze the mid- and long-term effectiveness of the 3rd-generation ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the younger patients. METHODS A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 68 younger patients (73 hips) who accepted the 3rd-generation CoC THA between March 2001 and May 2009. Of 68 cases, 39 was male and 29 was female with the average age of 38.6 years (range, 18-50 years); there were 15 cases (15 hips) of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, 9 cases (9 hips) congenital dysplasia of the hip, 5 cases (8 hips) of ankylosing spondylitis, 10 cases (10 hips) of osteoarthritis of the hip joint, 12 cases (12 hips) of traumatic hip arthritis, 12 cases (12 hips) of femoral neck fracture, 4 cases (6 hips) of rheumatoid hip arthritis, and 1 case (1 hip) of tumor of the femoral neck. The Harris score and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score were used to evaluate the hip joint function and activity level respectively. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess postoperative thigh pain. Radiological signs of osteolysis, loosening, and alumina ceramic related complications were evaluated continuously. And the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess the prosthesis survival. RESULTS The average duration of follow-up was 9.7 years (range, 6-14 years). Sandwich ceramic liners fracture was observed in 3 cases (3 hips), and revision was performed; 1 case had "squeaking" hip because of physical activity. At last follow-up, Harris score and UCLA score were significantly improved when compared with preoperative scores (P<0.05). Bony healing was obtained in all patients, without osteolysis, loosening, and thigh pain. The VAS score was 0. The 5-year and 10-year cumulative survival rates for ceramic fracture revision were 98.6% and 95.9%, and the 5-year and 10-year cumulative survival rates for osteolysis and loosening revision both were 100%. CONCLUSIONS The 3rd-generation CoC prosthesis offer an excellent option for younger patients in THA and the mid- and long-term effectiveness are satisfactory.