Dr. Joshua John-Ram Schacter explains why people under 65 are getting hip and knee replacements at record rates. Joint replacements in the 45-64 age group have jumped over 220% since 2004. Younger patients need redo surgeries more often, with 62% of revisions happening in the first three months, usually from infection.
45–64
Over 220% increase since 2004.
Within the first three months.
Infection.
Have a higher risk of revision, meaning they'll have to have the joint redone.
The traditional system is built to get us into a joint replacement. You go and you see your doctor, you maybe get a steroid injection and then we end up with a joint replacement. We go to the orthopedic surgeon, we maybe do two physical therapy sessions and boom. Well, the result of that is we're really speeding people, particularly in younger ages, into joint replacements. The rate of joint replacement in patients between 45 and 64 has gone up by over 220% for hip and knee replacements since 2004. So that's incredible. And what does that result in? Well, younger patients have a higher risk of revision, meaning they'll have to have the joint redone and they also have a higher risk of early Revision. And about 62% of those revisions are done within the first three months. And they're for infection, which is a life changing problem. If you get a joint replacement that develops an infection.
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