Studies Suggest More Joint Replacement Patients Under Age 65 Years Have Severe Osteoarthritis

PainMedicineNews—March 19, 2015

The fastest-growing population of patients undergoing total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) in the United States is age 65 years or younger. Despite being at least 10 years younger than the “older” people getting THR or TKR, an increasing number of these younger patients have more severe osteoarthritis (OA) and are in worse shape at the time of surgery with regard to pain scores and emotional/mental health, according to data from two companion studies reflecting national trends in the United States.

Ishaan Swarup, MD, a resident at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, said the trends toward surgery in younger patients seem to be related to obvious factors.

“We have improved technology, improved outcomes, improved perioperative management and better physical therapy,” said Dr. Swarup. “It is only natural for younger patients to seek this as a viable treatment.”

This story originally appeared at painmedicinenews.com.