With hip new techniques, replacements last longer (UT-San Diego)
The average age in the U.S. for patients needing a hip replacement is 65. However, the age group where the number of such surgeries is increasing the most is among those in their 50s.
The reasons for that are not entirely clear.
According to Dr. Nithin Reddy, an orthopedic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente San Diego, it’s thought that the obesity epidemic might play a role in the need for the procedure. He also said it may have to do with the fact that more and more people are staying active later in life.
No matter what the reason the surgery is needed, the procedure has undergone changes over time that often lead to a more speedy recovery for patients.
Dr. David Amory, an orthopedic surgeon at Tri-City Medical Center, said the procedure involves complete replacement of the hip joint — which involves a ball and socket. The pelvic socket is resurfaced and the thigh bone ball is replaced with a new ceramic or metal ball.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, he said more than 285,000 total hip replacements are performed each year in the U.S., and surgeons are constantly reminded that those numbers are...
