Most knee and hip replacements ‘last longer than previously thought’

A study undertaken at the University of Bristol has found that eighty per cent of knee replacements and sixty per cent of hip replacements last as long as 25 years, which is much longer than previously believed.

Up until now, there has been little data on the success of new knees and hips, and these findings could help patients and surgeons to decide whether and when to carry out the surgery.

The procedures are two of the most common types of surgery in the NHS and doctors often struggle to answer questions from patients relating to the length of implants lifetimes.

Lead study author Dr Jonathan Evans, said “At best, the NHS has only been able to say how long replacements are designed to last, rather than referring to actual evidence from multiple patients’ experiences of joint replacement surgery.

“Given the improvement in technology and techniques in the last 25 years, we expect that hip or knee replacements put in today may last even longer.”

He added that as life expectancy rises and the ageing population grows, this will become even more important.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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