The release reports that in 2008 there were a total of 277,399 total hip replacements and 10 percent of those failed or required revision. Here are the highlights from the AAOS Annual Meeting about hip surgery.
1. Risk of revision for osteoarthritis patients. A recent study examined patients 12 years after receiving total hip replacements for osteoarthritis and found the risk of revision was approximately 2 percent per year for the first 18 months after surgery and then 1 percent per year for the remainder of the 12 years. The risk of revision was higher among men than women and in patients ages 65-75 than 75 and above.
2. Hip replacement in patients 80 years and older. Another study focused on total hip replacement in patients age 80 and older. The study found:
• Patients older than 80 reported substantial clinical improvement and satisfaction
• 84.2 percent of the patients reported no or mild pain compared with 79.8 in the younger group
• Medical complications were significantly more common among the older patients (23.8 percent compared to 6.2 percent)
• 14.4 percent of the older patients experienced dislocations during the first year compared to 6.6 percent of the younger patients
• 9.5 percent of the older patients experienced fractures, compared to 2.5 percent of the younger patients
3. Squeaking associated with ceramic-on-ceramic implants. A study focusing on the squeaking associated with ceramic-on-ceramic total hip replacement found that it was reported in 1-8 percent of ceramic procedures. Researchers examined the squeaking and found certain qualities in the patients were more likely to promote squeaking. Taller, heavier and younger senior citizen patients were more likely to experience squeaky hips.
4. Durable implants for active patients. Thomas Schmalzried, MD, medical director at the Joint Replacement Institute at the Saint Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles, says the characteristics of today’s high-performance hip implants include:
• Durable implant fixation to ensure the implant won’t loosen
• Increased implant shapes and sizes to improve fit and function for a wider variety of patients
• Larger diameter bearings to provide greater stability and lower dislocation risk
• Lower wear bearing surfaces to reduce the risk of osteolysis
Read the AAOS news release on hip replacement.
Read other coverage on AAOS:
– AAOS: 5 Tips for Selecting Orthopedic Physician Partners
– AAOS: 3 Points on Orthopedic Surgeon Risk Management and Prevention
– AAOS: 11 Key Changes to Orthopedic and Spine CPT Codes for 2011
