Here are 10 statistics and facts about joint replacement from a comprehensive CDC report titled, "Health, United States, 2009," under the section, "Special Feature, Medical Technology."
1. Hospital discharges for total hip replacement increased by one-third and knee replacements by 70 percent from 1996-2006.
2. The most common reason for joint replacement is pain and decreased quality of life from osteoarthritis. With an aging population and one-third of Americans obese, prevalence of osteoarthritis is expected to increase.
3. Demand for joint replacements will grow an estimated 175 percent for total hip replacements and six-fold for total knee replacements by 2030.
4. Total hip replacements increased by one-third, partial hip replacements by 60 percent and total knee replacements by 70 percent from 1996-2006.
5. Advances in surgical techniques, such as minimally-invasive methods and use of computer-assisted surgical systems, aim to reduce post-operative pain, shorten recovery time and improve surgical accuracy.
6. Rates for total hip replacements were similar among men and women in 2006, at 18.1 and 20.5 discharges per 10,000 respectively, and increased with age.
7. Partial hip procedures, often used to treat fractures, were about twice as common among women than men ages 45 years and older, at 23.9 and 13.0 discharges per 10,000 respectively, and were more common among older persons.
8. Knee replacements were more common among women than men 45 years of age and older, at 54.0 and 34.9 discharges per 10,000 respectively in 2006.
9. Knee replacements were more than three times as high for people 65 years of age and over than for those 45-64 years old, at 84.1 and 25.7 discharges per 10,000, respectively.
10. While most joint replacement patients are older, longer-lasting joints make the procedures a viable option for younger and more active patients.
Read the CDC Report "Health, United States, 2009."