Are hip and knee replacement surgeries only done on people 65 and older?
Nowadays, hip and knee replacement surgeries can be safely done on people of almost any age, from age 12 up (as in those with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or very serious injuries) to adults in their nineties if one’s overall health is stable. Hip and knee replacements have been performed in the U.S. for almost 40 years now, and the quality, selection and types of implants (design and materials) are better now than ever before. Through several decades of orthopedic research, surgeons now know how to tailor implant selection and procedures to patients’ age, activity level and health status, and how to care for patients with joint replacements for the remainder of their lives, which includes any additional revision surgeries if all or part of the implants loosen or wear out. Thus, joint replacements can dramatically improve the quality of life of people of all ages who are living with serious and disabling joint pain.
