​Age requirements for knee replacement

When the knee joint is severely damaged and the patient is unable to take care of himself and his life is restricted, the patient may choose to undergo knee replacement for treatment. However, knee replacement is not suitable for everyone. There are certain age requirements for knee replacement. Specifically, 65-75 is the most suitable age. Specific explanations on age restrictions are provided below.

First let's understand what total knee replacement is:

Total knee replacement is an effective surgical method for treating end-stage knee osteoarthritis caused by various reasons. The procedure has developed to maturity and is widely used. More than 500,000 knee replacements are performed worldwide each year, and the satisfactory efficacy rate exceeds 90% within 15 years.

The surgical method is to use special metal and plastic to replace the surface of the bone friction part, and use precision special instruments to install it in place. The upper distal end of the femur uses a metal prosthesis that matches its original curvature, and the lower tibia surface uses a smooth metal prosthesis with an ultra-high molecular polyethylene gasket to act as cartilage. Depending on the condition, the lower surface of the patella can also be replaced with a disc made of polyethylene material.

According to the consensus of the international and domestic orthopedic communities, 60 to 75 years old is the best time to undergo knee replacement. Undergoing this surgery at this age can result in better surgical outcomes and improved quality of life.

Total knee replacement is mainly used to treat knee osteoarthritis, which is common in middle-aged and elderly people. People aged 60 and above are at high risk of osteoarthritis, with an incidence rate of more than 20%. Therefore, in addition to the higher incidence rate, people in this age range also have better physical fitness, which enables them to have a certain tolerance to surgery and to complete postoperative functional exercises better, thereby better enjoying the improvement in their daily quality of life after surgery.

Generally speaking, patients under the age of 60 who have severe pain, limited daily activities, and who have been formally diagnosed with diseases such as severe knee osteoarthritis should undergo replacement surgery as soon as possible. Since the severity of knee joint diseases often increases with age, simply avoiding and delaying surgical treatment will only allow the disease to worsen and make surgery more difficult. Therefore, timely surgery is the right choice.