According to a recent research study the number of knee replacement surgeries carried out among older adults has doubled during the last twenty years. In 2010, 224,000 knee replacement surgeries were conducted, a rise of 162%. This is apart from other types of surgeries to repair or modify artificial knee joints.

Rising obesity is considered a prime reason for increased knee-replacement surgery in older adults. Furthermore, present financial practices as well as the cost of surgery in the future could well increase the incidence of such surgeries in the years ahead according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

With extended lifespans and healthier lifestyles, a large percentage of older adults anticipating several years of productive life ahead, want to remain active for as long as possible.

The recent study on total knee arthroplasty in the United States between the years 1991 and 2010 focused primarily on changing trends. With knee surgery many seniors looked forward to an improved quality of life and extended mobility. The outcome of the study revealed that the average age for the surgery was marginally over 70 years of age with many being Medicare beneficiaries. In 1991 roughly 3 in every 10,000 beneficiaries underwent the procedure.What is knee replacement surgery?

It is a corrective surgical procedure to provide better mobility and relieve pain. It involves replacement of the surfaces on the knee joint under stress because of the weight they have to bear. It becomes necessary because of damage to knee surfaces caused by diseases of the knee like osteoarthritis, psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis. Other more serious knee conditions like severe knee deformities and arthritis developed over an extended period are also relieved with knee replacement surgery, but carry a higher risk.

Depending on the condition of the knee, the patient might undergo either partial or total knee replacement.

The surgery entails removing the damaged or diseased surfaces in the joint and replacing them with plastic of metal components designed to allow normal motion of the knee.

The surgery requires considerable post-operative physiotherapy which invariably is painful. Depending on the type of mobility aids prescribed, normal recovery is of the order of six weeks or more. While the period of hospitalization is 4 to 8 days after surgery, the patient is encouraged to walk aided on the second day after surgery.

How safe is knee replacement surgery for seniors?

Knee replacement has been proved to be one of the most successful surgeries worldwide. It is a game changer which significantly improves the lifestyle of a person. The average age of a knee replacement patient is in excess of 70 years. Globally the failure rate is around 2%. Because of medical advances, pain during surgery is minimized and today the procedure is considered virtually painless.

A person of any age is a candidate for knee replacement surgery provided all other health factors are conducive. It provides an effective solution to resume an active lifestyle after a reasonable period of readjustment. Today more and more people in their 80s and 90s opt for knee replacement surgery in pursuit of a more mobile and active lifestyle.

What are the risks involved?

The major post-operative risk is from infection and formation of blood clots. But these days doctors take all care to minimize these dangers and the complications associated with this surgery are negligible. Some patients do experience an element of stiffness after surgery in the knee. About 10 to 15% of patients develop slight knee bursitis which is controllable and not serious. The benefits of knee replacement surgery far outweigh the risks.