When you hear the term “hip replacement,” you probably picture a retiree getting ready to have their hip replaced with an artificial hip. We certainly help a number of patients in their 60s and 70s, but over the last decade we’ve seen a sizable shift in the age of the patient who is walking into our office and asking about hip surgery.
Recent statistics back up this trend. In a large study that looked at the demographics of individuals undergoing hip surgery, researchers noticed there was a 200 percent increase in hip surgeries among patients between the ages of 45-54 from the year 2000 to 2010. Younger adults are undergoing hip replacement surgery at a much higher rate than in the past. But why is this the case, and could you be a candidate for hip replacement surgery? We dive into those questions below.
The Rise Of The Young Hip Replacement Patient
So why is hip replacement becoming more popular among patients in their 40s and 50s? There are a number of different factors at play:
- Surgery success rate – Total hip replacement is a highly successful surgery that has only become more precise and effective as technology continues to advance. We have a very detailed understanding of who might be an ideal candidate and what their life would be like after the operation. We have the tools and the ability to help people regain their independence, so they are taking it back before they reach retirement.
- Better technology – Technology to create artificial hips is only getting better, meaning we’re better able to manufacture devices that will last longer and prove more effective than older models. The vast majority of patients only need one hip replacement surgery as the devices no longer wear down as quickly as past models. Patients who were once considered “too young” because a device typically lasts 20-30 years no longer need to worry about their artificial hip breaking down over time.
- Surgical techniques improved – Dr. Botero and other advanced surgeons can use surgical techniques that are less invasive and less taxing on the body. This leads to shorter recovery times and the impact on the body is less, which means we no longer need to wait until a hip has degenerated an extreme amount before pursuing surgical treatment.
- Younger patients bounce back better – One benefit the younger surgical patient has always had going for them is that their body can better handle everything that comes with surgery, be it the anesthesia, the physical recovery and the progression through rehab. Because of all the above factors, and because younger candidates do tend to have better surgical outcomes than their older counterparts, more patients in their 40s and 50s are looking into hip replacement as an option.
So if you’ve been bothered by hip pain or your body isn’t responding well to conservative options to treat your hip arthritis, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office to see if you’d be a candidate for a hip replacement operation. We can provide more insights about how the procedure would affect you and what you have to gain than your primary care physician can provide. After all, they still may believe that hip surgery is only for the older patient. Reclaim your active lifestyle while you’re still young by looking into hip replacement with Dr. Botero’s office today.
