With the Olympics underway, the spotlight is centered on young elite athletes who are experiencing an increasing rate of hip or total knee replacements. 

According to a new report from Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush and Rush University Center, elite athletes are reaching the limits of their athletic abilities taking a toll on their bodies. 

"Hip and knee replacements are no longer for grandmas and grandpas," said Richard Berger, MD, Rush University Medical Center orthopedic surgeon and author of the report. "Twenty years ago, we used to tell younger patients to come back in 10 years. Today, the average age of my patients is 57.” 

Pointing to recent young athletes who have had joint replacements, Dr. Berger noted younger people are less apprehensive about getting surgeries. Lindsay Vaughn, the only American woman to win an Olympic downhill gold medal, recently announced she had total knee replacement at the age of 39 after contending with injuries and arthritis. Following years of pain and mobility from arthritis,1984 gymnastics Olympian Mary Lou Retton opted to have her hip replaced at age 37.

He noted at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) new data revealed 28 percent of hip replacement procedures are performed on men and women under 55.

The study also found that demand for total hip replacements is expected to increase 174 percent by 2030, and 28 percent of the 572,000 total hip arthroplasty procedures performed annually are in patients under the age of 55.

Dr. Berger added a recent study published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research revealed that by 2030, the demand for total joint replacement by patients less than 65 will be 52 percent of primary total hip replacements and up to 62 percent of primary or revision total knee replacements.

Meanwhile, a 2023 study by the AAOS found that of participants who had hip replacement under age 55, only one percent needed revision surgery due to advancements in surgical procedures and materials.

Long-term participation in elite activities can increase the risk of developing arthritis, which Dr. Berger said can keep individuals from being active and “destroy every aspect of your life.” He added that awareness of the benefits of joint replacement will lead to better long-term health outcomes for athletes. 

“This age group is typically less apprehensive about getting surgeries because they don't want to hobble around or live their life taking anti-inflammatories or pain pills,” he said.