Orthopedics Hip & Knee Hip Replacement Surgery Hip Replacement in Young Patients By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD LinkedIn Twitter Jonathan Cluett, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 23, 2022 Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD LinkedIn Stuart Hershman, MD, is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery. He is the director of adult spinal deformity & complex spinal reconstruction at Massachusetts General Hospital and is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Hip replacement surgery has long been used to treat hip arthritis in elderly patients. However, concerns arise when a patient in his 40s, 50s, or younger, has severe hip arthritis that is not relieved with non-operative treatments. Once reserved for elderly patients, hip replacement surgery is becoming more common in the younger, active population. Monty Rakusen / Getty Images How Young Is Too Young? No one can definitively answer this question, but what we do know is that the benefits of performing hip replacement surgery in younger patients may outweigh the risks of surgery. The benefits are primarily the quality of life, pain reduction, and maintaining proper fitness. By accomplishing these goals, patients may also reduce the risk of developing other problems associated with poor fitness such as cardiovascular disease. The primary problem in performing hip replacement surgery in younger patients is the concern of wearing out the implant. Developments in manufacturing have sought to reduce the magnitude of this problem, but it is a concern. Furthermore, the amount of wear to a hip replacement is related to the activity level of the patient. As you might expect, the usual activities of the average 30-year-old are different from the average 80-year-old. Therefore, young patients with joint replacements should be cautious and perform only suggested activities. Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Results in Young Patients The results of hip replacement in patients younger than 50 years of age are clearly not as good as it is in older patients. However, research has shown that about 75% of implants will last 15-20 and more than half will last 25 years in patients with osteoarthritis. We know that the younger age you have a hip replacement, the more likely it is to wear out quickly. What we do not know is how newer implants may affect the longevity of a hip replacement. Most studies looking at how long hip implants last are evaluating traditional metal and plastic replacements. Newer implants made of all metal or ceramic have shown better results in laboratory testing. It is important to understand, however, that lab results are not always predictive of how these implants will work in people, and we simply do not know if these newer implants are going to last longer. Hip Replacement Surgery: Recovery Are Newer Implants Better? Many new joint replacement implants are constantly being developed. The goal of any new implant is that it will be more reliable and more durable than preceding implants. While this is a terrific goal, the bottom line is that it is not always the case. Some new implants have been a tremendous success, while there are other stories of implants that have been recalled and even required surgical removal. Unfortunately, sometimes these problems don't show up until the implants have been used for years or even decades. Implants can be tested in laboratory settings without exposing patients to any risk or harm, however, some implant problems only show up after they have been implanted in people. Patients often want advice about which implant is best, or if newer implants are better. These are difficult questions to answer, and there is no perfect solution. While the prospect of a newly designed implant may be appealing, patients, even young patients, should use caution when trying anything without a proven track record. Young patients are rightfully concerned about how long their newly implanted joint replacement is likely to last. While there are no guarantees, there are good data to suggest that hip replacements often last 20 years or longer. Sticking to a proven implant that has a good track record can help to ensure that your replacement will last as long as possible. 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Rivera LS. University of Virginia Health System. How to know when it's time for a hip replacement. 2018. Bessette BJ, Fassier F, Tanzer M, Brooks CE. Total hip arthroplasty in patients younger than 21 years: a minimum, 10-year follow-up. Can J Surg. 2003;46(4):257-62. Evans JT, Evans JP, Walker RW, Blom AW, Whitehouse MR, Sayers A. How long does a hip replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case series and national registry reports with more than 15 years of follow-up. The Lancet. 2019;393(10172):647-654. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31665-9 Hu CY, Yoon TR. Recent updates for biomaterials used in total hip arthroplasty. Biomater Res. 2018;22:33. doi:10.1186/s40824-018-0144-8 Additional Reading Daras M, Macaulay W. "Total Hip Arthroplasty in Young Patients With Osteoarthritis" Amer Journal Orthop. 2009 Mar;v38,n3:125-29. McAuley JP, et al. "Total hip arthroplasty in patients 50 years and younger" Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004 Jan;(418):119-25. By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit