Studies show patients in their 90s do well after getting hip surgery

Anyone who has ever noticed the spry seniors stepping alongside them at a 5K run, or keeping up with an aerobics class at the gym, knows that aging has changed dramatically in the past few years. We not only live longer; we stay active and energetic well into our golden years. So the news that hip replacement surgery is safe for patients in their 90s is encouraging.

Age can be a significant contributing factor in osteoarthritis, when wear and tear on a joint can lead to severe pain and limit movement, but there was sometimes hesitation about performing surgery on someone at such an advanced age because of the normal risks of surgery.

Recent studies shows that advanced surgery techniques have significantly reduced those risks and combined with a population that is in relatively good health, hip replacement surgery is a good option.

“Most folks who live to 90 years old and have symptomatic arthritis are generally a pretty hardy crowd,” Dr. Craig Della Valle, a professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago told HealthDay. “If they are healthy enough that their arthritis bothers them, it usually means they are active and can tolerate elective surgery.”

Hip surgery can vastly improve a patient’s quality of life. Having that treatment option when they are in their 90s can allow elderly patients to maintain independence and live without pain.