Analysis: Patients are delaying joint replacement surgery and affecting device sales

 
As patients put up with pain, device sales suffer (Reuters)
Orthopedic surgeon John Tongue sees more patients these days who are in pain and deciding to do nothing about it.
As it gets harder for them to walk, some find hip or knee replacement surgery a compelling option. But many of Tongue's patients have another worry, one that is causing some to delay treatment and live with the pain awhile longer.
"We have more people who are anxious about losing their jobs if they have elective surgery. They are anxious about returning to work," said Tongue, who practices near Portland, Oregon, re...