Knee Replacement Surgery
Osteoarthritis is one of the ten most disabling diseases in developed countries. Worldwide estimates are that 10% of men and 18% of women aged over 60 years have symptomatic osteoarthritis, including moderate and severe forms. It is estimated by the year 2030, 72 million Americans will be at high risk for osteoarthritis.
As the general population ages, more and more baby boomers are opting for knee replacement surgery earlier in life, the reason being that boomers are more active than any previous generation. They want to continue playing their favorite sports, run and dance with the same level of intensity as they are used to.
Previously, knee replacement surgeries were only performed on very old patients who were crippled with osteoarthritis that was severely hindering their daily activities. “Now patients in their 40s and 50s are experiencing an earlier onset of osteoarthritis that affects their daily lives,” says J. David Blaha, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Michigan Health System. In fact, the number of boomers opting to go under the knife for early knee replacement is growing at an alarming rate.
One major concern for orthopedic surgeons is the longevity of the knee implant. Due to the fact that most joint replacements have been performed primarily on older patients, there isn't a lot of data to show how these implants hold up in younger people, who will engage in more activities and have them over longer periods of time.
Even though orthopedic surgeons are using newer and better materials and techniques, they remain dubious about their improvement in durability. They are uncertain how the knee replacements will hold up over time, especially since some plastics used have only been out there for several years.
Younger knee replacement patients may need to get a new replacement in as little as 5-10 years, which is a concern. “It gets more complicated with each revision,” says Michael R. Baumgaertner, M.D., professor of orthopedic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine. “Every time it has to be redone, there is more bone loss.”
Knee replacement surgery is not a quick fix, and it is not without risks. Serious complications, such as blood clots and infections, can occur. In addition, the road to recovery can be difficult and time consuming, particularly with joint replacement surgery.
