How Long Will My Hip or Knee Replacement Last?

Hip and knee replacements are lasting longer than ever, which means many patients are electing to undergo hip or knee replacement surgery at younger ages. As a result, men and women are able to remain active despite arthritis or other causes of joint pain well into their 70s, 80s, and beyond. 

Still, committing to hip or knee surgery is a major decision, as it's a significant surgery with risks, just like any other procedure. That’s why it’s important to consider surgery only after you’ve exhausted other nonoperative treatment options and in a season when it will be the least disruptive to your life. In addition, understanding how long a joint replacement will last can impact the age in which you decide to move forward with surgery.
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Average lifespan of a hip or knee replacement.

Everyone’s anatomy is different, as are their activity levels and overall health. While we can’t guarantee a minimum lifespan for an individual’s joint, the average hip or knee replacement now lasts about 20 years. And as evolving technology continues to enhance surgical techniques and joint implants, it’s realistic to see this lifespan increase even more.

Your age, weight, and activity level can all impact the longevity of your joint replacement. With most hip or knee replacements, you can return to nearly any activity you used to so long as the rest of your body can tolerate it. However, just because you can, doesn’t necessarily mean you should. High impact exercises such as running or jumping will wear out your joint prosthesis faster than low impact activity such as swimming or training on the elliptical. That’s not to say that you should avoid running altogether. But it’s important to approach activity with a balanced mindset.

Of course, complications can also affect the lifespan of your artificial hip or knee joint. If you fracture your hip or knee after a bad fall, for example, you’ll likely need revision surgery. In addition, dislocation, infection, and mechanical loosening, although rare, can shorten the lifespan of your replacement.
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What’s the best age to get your first hip or knee replacement surgery?

We used to delay recommending surgery until people were in their late 60s or 70s to increase the chances that a joint replacement would last the duration of someone’s life. However, because newer joint replacement materials, technologies, and techniques enable replacements to last longer, patients are considering surgery at earlier ages than ever. Generally, people are less afraid of the surgery because it is so incredibly common and successful in helping people return to activity with less pain and greater function. I’ve performed joint replacement surgery for people of all ages, from a 16 year-old to a 98-year-old who wanted to keep golfing into his 100s. 

There really is no “best age” that is standard for everyone. Rather, an ongoing dialogue with your doctor will help to determine the right time for you to consider hip or knee replacement surgery. Most surgeons will recommend starting with conservative treatment options first, such as anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, activity modifications, or physical therapy. If you’ve tried these approaches with little improvement in your pain, you have to ask yourself some hard questions. Can you live with this pain and just slow down your life? Or is the consequence of a less active lifestyle that could result in weight gain or increased blood pressure more risky than undergoing surgery? Surgery isn’t without risks, but how do they compare to choosing to take pain medications and living with those risks?

Ultimately, when you feel like you’ve run out of other treatment options and you can’t do the active things you enjoy, you will likely be more mentally prepared to pursue surgery and get back to your life. 
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Signs a hip or knee replacement may be wearing out.

After you undergo hip or knee surgery, your care team will give you specific instructions for any warning signs that might indicate your joint is wearing out. But before you notice any signs of pain, instability, or swelling, it’s important to stay on top of maintenance appointments with your orthopedic surgeon. At regular intervals, you should be getting x-rays to check on your joint health so we can catch any signs of wear out before you would feel it. When we can identify early signs, we can replace worn out parts in an outpatient procedure much more easily than performing a revision surgery that requires us to redo the whole replacement.

There’s a bit of debate about how frequently you should have your maintenance appointment so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about an interval that’s right for you. It’s unlikely that your joint will wear out within the first ten years, but you may want to consider yearly or every other year after that. I often recommend that my patients pick a memorable date that reminds them to schedule their maintenance appointments, whether that’s a birthday, particular holiday, or the Olympics every four years.
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Tips for extending the lifespan of your joint replacement.

Getting a hip or knee replacement is like buying a new car. If you drive it off-road frequently, it’s likely to wear out much faster. But if you just keep it parked in the garage and don’t take it out for a spin, was it really worth it? Find a balance as you resume an active lifestyle, and stay on top of your maintenance appointments so you can catch any signs of wear before you wind up needing a new revision.  

If you have hip or knee pain, our MedStar Orthopaedic Institute hip and knee specialists can help you understand all of your treatment options. Whether you’re in your 50s or 80s, we partner with you to weigh the pros and cons of surgery so you can feel confident in choosing the right time for you.