More than 277,000 total hip replacements were performed in 2008, according to a report from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which is a 78 percent increase from the 1998 numbers. The portion of patients aged 45-64 grew from 27 percent in 1998 to 40 percent in 2008.
Most joint replacements are expected to last for 15-20 years, according to the National Institute of Arthritis. More surgeons are now performing surgeries on patients who are younger than 60 because the patients want to remain more active than in previous generations, according to the report. Remaining active is also one of the major factors an increase in osteoarthritis in the knee among the 45-64-year-old population.
Read the report from The Washington Post about total joint replacements.
Read other coverage on total joint replacement:
– 4 Benefits of a National Joint Replacement Registry
– University of Massachusetts Medical School Receives $12M for Total Joint Replacement Research
