There are approximately 700,000 knee replacements performed in the United States each year and that number continues to increase, said Dr. Russ Guin, assistant professor of sports medicine with the College of Community Health Sciences.
The most common reason for knee replacement is primary osteoarthritis, Guin said during a Mini Medical School presentation in February. Mini Medical School is a series of lectures provided each semester through a collaboration of The University of Alabama OLLI program and CCHS, which operates University Medical Center.
Osteoarthritis, which is more common in older people, can be classified as primary or secondary.
Primary osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage, a rubbery material that eases friction in the joints. It has no known cause and results in degeneration without any apparent underlying reason. Secondary osteoarthritis is caused by another disease, infection, injury or deformity that leads to a concentration of force on the joint.
Guin said the average age for knee replacements is 65, although the number of people younger than that who are receiving knee replacements is increasing.
He discussed recent technology in knee replacements. “Cruciate retaining or posterior stabilization remain the two most widely used techniques,” he said.
Guin also briefly discussed hip replacements, revealing that more than 370,000 such replacements were performed in the United States in 2014. He said computer-assisted surgery has been developed to increase the accuracy and reliability of hip implant placement.
The Mini Medical School program has been presented by CCHS faculty since 2016. It provides an opportunity for community learners to explore trends in medicine and health, and the lectures offer important information about issues and advances in medicine and research.