Research published by English researchers found that 8 out of 10 knee implants and 6 out of 10 hip implants last 25 years, MachineDesign reports.
University of Bristol researchers reviewed several case studies over 25 years to evaluate how hip and knee implants age. Researchers examined 150 cases related to hip replacements, 33 cases related to knee replacements, and six joint replacement registries. Of the patients in those registries, 215,676 hip replacement patients were followed up after 15 years, 74,052 after 20 years and 51,359 at more than 25 years.
Of hip replacements, 89 percent of implants lasted 15 years, 70 percent lasted 20 years and 58 percent lasted 25 years.
Among knee replacement patients, 299,221 total knee replacement patients and 7,714 partial knee replacement patients were followed up at 15 years; 88,532 total knee and 3,935 partial knee patients at 20 years; and 76,651 total knee and 3,935 partial knee patients at 25 years.
Of knee replacements, 93 percent of total knee and 77 percent of partial knee implants lasted 15 years; 90 percent of total knee and 72 percent of partial knee implants lasted 20 years; and 82 percent of total knee and 70 percent of partial knee implants lasted more than 25 years.