The Effect of Age on Pain, Function, and Quality of Life After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

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Abstract
UTILIZATION rates for both total hip and total knee arthroplasties (THA/TKA) have been steadily increasing.1,2 While the majority of patients receiving joint arthroplasties are elderly, the question of who should receive joint arthroplasty is a function of age.1 The average age for joint replacements has not increased, in spite of an aging population and prosthetic advances.1,3 In a cohort study of US Medicare beneficiaries, patients aged 85 years or older were less likely to receive TKA than their younger counterparts.1 Moreover, older patients are as willing to undergo joint arthroplasty as younger patients.4 Hesitancy to perform this surgery in older patient populations is speculative and may not be related to age itself, but rather may be associated with comorbid conditions and postoperative complications.