The population of patients receiving hip and knee replacements was younger in 2014 than in 2000, according to a study presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. A younger population could increase the likelihood of modern implants wearing out in the patients' lifetimes
Here are seven research findings.
1. The average age for primary total hip replacement decreased from 66.3 years to 64.9 years from 2000 to 2014.
2. The average age for primary total knee replacement decreased from 68 years to 65.9 years from 2000 to 2014.
3. The population of patients undergoing total joint replacement procedures is predominantly women.
4. Between 80 percent and 86 percent of patients undergoing TJR are non-Hispanic whites. Blacks comprise 8 to 11 percent of the TJR population, a proportion which has been increasing.
5. Hispanics account for 3 to 6 percent of the TJR population and Asians make up less than 1 percent. These numbers didn't significantly change between 2000 and 2014.
6. There were 370,770 total hip replacements and 680,150 total knee replacements in 2014, according to the National Inpatient Sample.
7. Researchers predict primary total hip replacement will grow 171 percent and primary total knee replacement will grow by up to 189 percent by 2030, for a total of 635,000 and 1.28 million procedures, respectively.