Posted on 03/22/2022 2:00:22 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Knee replacement surgery is increasingly common among people over 80 sidelined with knee pain, and the procedure isn't as hazardous for them as often assumed.
That's the main message from a new study of more than 1.7 million seniors who underwent knee replacement surgery.
Octogenarians do have longer hospital stays after knee replacement surgery and are also more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 90 days than patients aged 65 to 79, but the two age groups tend to have similar risks for other complications, the study team found.
Varghese conducted the study at Maimonides Medical Center, in Brooklyn. "Knee replacement surgery carries a very low risk for people aged 80 and older, and they will likely have a substantial, if not complete, reduction of pain after surgery," Varghese said.
For the study, the researchers analyzed medical claims data on more than 1.7 million people aged 65 and older who got a new knee. The investigators compared complication rates among people aged 80 and older to those experienced by patients aged 65 to 79.
Rates of readmission and length of hospital stay were higher and longer among octogenarians, the results showed.
Both age groups had similar risks for medical complications (such as pneumonia and other infections) in the 90 days following their surgery.
But folks aged 80 and up had lower rates of implant-related complications—such as erosion, infection, implant failure and mechanical loosening—than their younger counterparts after two years.
This makes sense, she said: "The younger group of patients may be more active so they have a higher risk of wear and tear on the hardware."
Surgery isn't the only option for these older patients. Other treatments such as weight loss or steroid injections may help, but knee pain typically doesn't get better on its own, Varghese said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I WILL read the article honest, but...I previously watched a couple YouTube animated videos of a knee replacement. It was just gruesome. Also looked like there were a lot of places it could go wrong. Scared me...and my knees kill me.
My 1st knee replacement was in 2011. 3 nights in hospital recovery.
My 2nd replacement was 2013. 2 nights in hospital.
My younger brother had knee replacement 2019 as an out patient. In & out same day.
Amazing!
Do you have Osteo or rheumatoid?
I’ve known a bunch if people that had knees and hips replaced. All but one were very happy they did it. The ine that didn’t had refused to do the post surgery physical therapy and never got back the mobility all the others did.
They still won’t be able to play professional sports...
My 1st replacement I was knocked out.
The 2nd one I had a spinal - awake but loopy. I could hear the saws and other construction tools. Was laughing and asked to see my new knee before they installed it.
Recovery is a process. You need to do the physical therapy.
But I have never regretted going thru it twice. No pain.
Not many 80 year olds are playing professional sports.
Thanks for this. I have a cranky but not quite painful hip joint.
I went to WebMD to see what they say about prevention, the site my MD consults when we discuss supplements he prescribes for me. Here’s what they say you can do to keep your joints strong:
https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/osteoarthritis-prevention-1
For D3, I use Carlson’s Norwegian Fish Oil. Lemon flavored. My doc prescribes it.
Most of the handful of supplements I take are deductible as drugs because he prescribes them. Genius MD.
I need both. Did you go home or to rehab?
Physical therapy really works. Gotta do the PT.
I went home. You definitely need help for at least the 1st week.
3 weeks ago, on 1 March, my soon to be 82 year old wife had a hip replacement and came home the same day after the procedure.
The next Day, Kaiser had a home PT call on her 3 times a week through yesterday.
My wife is improving daily and is able to do more exercises and recovery PT each day.
She still tires out easily and needs to rest.
She only needed half of a pain pill for 3 nights. She takes 2 Celebrex, 2 Tylenol and 2 baby aspirin and uses ice packs when needed for her aches and pain.
Due to the Covid B$, her operation was delayed for months.
Before her operation, when she walked or got up after setting, her hip sounded like rocks in a cement mixer. That pain and aggravation has been gone since she left the hospital.
I was able to be with her pre and post op by wearing a disposable mask that went into a trash barrel as we left the hospital to bring her home. My mask joined hers and both ended up with other masks in the trash container where I picked her up to bring her home.
sounds like collusion between medical professionals, replacement joint manufacturers, and the medical insurance groups to get paid to experiment on people...
If you knee gets straightened out right away.
It’s been nearly a year for me and my knee replacement has not straightened out. They have to do it right away.
My hip healed much faster than my knee.
Friend had her hip replaced at age 95
Lived til 101 and 5 months travelling frequently until a few weeks before passing.
Yes, the supplements really do work.
When I was 18, my mom dragged me to the ER because my knee was swollen. The X-rays showed ostearthritis.
A year later, I started having great difficulty going upstairs.
(Mind you, this isn’t a weight thing—I’ve been thin all my life.)
Then I started taking fish oil. My knees have hardly ever hurt or been stiff since.
You might research platelet-rich-plasma injections. Ask your ortho doc about it.
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