Hip replacement operations are becoming more common in today’s society, and the number of replacements that hip surgeons perform each year continues to grow. Back in 2000, surgeons performed roughly 138,000 hip replacements, and nowadays we’re performing more than 300,000 such surgeries on an annual basis.
There are a number of reasons for this increase. For starters, a large crop of baby boomers are getting up to that age where hip replacements are more common (average age is 65). But another key reason is because medical science has advanced to the point where the procedure is becoming both less invasive and more successful at fixing the problem. A final reason is because patients are more cognizant of their health and are willing to seek out a professional opinion if they believe they are having hip issues, which leads to more of them opting to have a surgical correction.
Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of patients who could benefit from a hip replacement option? While a consultation with a hip specialist will give you the best idea of the potential benefits and risks, we thought we’d put together a demographic chart of those individuals who would best benefit from a hip replacement operation.
Candidates For Hip Replacement
If your hips are causing pain, you may be an ideal candidate for hip replacement surgery. However, pain isn’t the only qualifier for the surgery. Others who could benefit from hip surgery include those who:
- Have difficulty walking/standing.
- Can no longer exercise or partake in certain physical activities.
- Have a decreased quality of life due to restrictions caused by their hip.
- Have difficulty bending down or going up or down stairs.
- Have not found relief through conservative care methods.
If you check any or all of those boxes. You may be a good candidate for hip replacement surgery. Aside from those symptoms, the ideal candidate will be in good health, be relatively young (50-68 years old), be a non-smoker, have limited comorbidities like high blood pressure or diabetes and have a commitment to taking an active role in their recovery and rehab. You’re going to have to put in some work on your own if you want to make a full recovery after hip replacement, and surgeons want to know you’re willing to take on this commitment before moving on with the procedure.
By using these specific techniques, Dr. Botero can give you a new hip while also preserving key muscles and structures, all while minimizing your risk of complications. After reading that piece, if you have any questions or would like to learn more, please reach out to his office by calling (865) 558-4444.
