Hip Replacement Boosts Mobility at Any Age
July 17, 2008 – 9:59 pmStudies find that patients who care for themselves, save money in the long run. Total hip replacements are beneficial and economical for seniors with osteoarthritis, regardless of their age.
The published studies of the Geriatrics Society, found those who had the surgery were twice as likely as those who didn’t to gain mobility and the ability to take care of one’s self. At the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago, we find that total hip arthroplasty improves everyday life for patients and is as beneficial to people in their 80s or 90s as it is for someone in their 60s. While the number of surgeries conducted in the U.S. has increased dramatically over the last decade, statistics indicate fewer than 25 percent of patients who could benefit from the procedure elect to receive it. Also, the surgery saves money for the health-care system, because the average self-pay is far less than the long-term expenses of health care for the mobility impaired. Health economists estimate a $50,000 a year savings associated with a disability-free life.
Osteoarthritis of the hip is a progressive type of arthritis that affects
about 10 million Americans. Associated with aging and obesity, it causes
pain, decreased mobility and increased risk of falls and fractures. Hip
replacements are performed when medications and physical therapy fail.
As total hip replacement is an invasive treatment with a long rehabilitation period, some physicians don’t like to offer the option to patients older than 85, and that is also why some older patients are reluctant to choose it when it is presented. At the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago, we have created a preoperative methodology of health care screening prior to a hip replacement for all age groups that maximizes preparedness and minimizes the risks inherent in any surgical procedure. We at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago treat the individual patient without age related bias.
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