Hip replacements are becoming increasingly common among groups of all ages, but overall patient age for hip replacements is decreasing, studies show. At the same time, advancements in medical technology have made the procedure safer for older orthopedic patients, while younger patients opt for prosthetic surgery more often  The number of hip replacement surgeries is steadily growing, increasing by 22% in the past ten years. Approximately 93.8% of such procedures are performed on people over 50, yet hip replacements are becoming more common in all age groups due to advancements in medicine and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

Moreover, according to the report, the overall patient age for hip replacements is decreasing, with the majority of hip replacements performed at 75, down from an average of 83 in the past decade. Prof. Šarūnas Tarasevičius, a surgeon at Nordorthopaedics Clinic, a leading international orthopedic center in Kaunas, Lithuania, says this overall decrease in age can be attributed to multiple factors, including advancements in medical practice and joint diseases occurring more often in younger patients.

“Today inactive lifestyles, poor diets, and obesity cause young individuals to develop degenerative joint diseases, which are not just limited to the elderly. In other words, hip arthroplasty can be done on a young patient under specific circumstances,” said Prof. Tarasevičius.

Hip replacements today less risky for elderly patients

Regardless of the average age for hip replacements becoming lower, nowadays the procedure is increasingly carried out on patients well into their eighties and nineties. Just recently, a 102-year-old patient successfully underwent the procedure in India and has made a full recovery.

“There are no upper age limits set for hip replacements, yet there are factors to consider before executing surgery. The patient must first be assessed by the family doctor for any co-morbidities that may lead to complications after prosthetic surgery. The most common problems are uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, cardiological problems, and venous problems,” explained Prof. Tarasevičius. “If the patient is properly prepared and given appropriate preoperative medical treatment, the risk of complications becomes similar to that of a younger patient.”

One of the main factors contributing to the safety of hip replacements is the advancement of new technologies. These include tools to reduce bleeding, rapid recovery program tools to promote rapid patient mobilization, and minimally invasive surgical techniques to help patients return to their normal activities more quickly.

According to Prof. Tarasevičius, the success rates of hip replacements are currently similar across all age groups, except for a longer recovery time for elderly patients. Generally, postsurgical results such as a reduction in pain and an increase in mobility are consistent regardless of age.

“We have had more than one patient over 85 years of age who has gotten back on their feet and avoided complications. Although the healing process is usually lengthier than that of younger patients due to a higher incidence of comorbidities, they have all made a full recovery,” he noted.