27.09.13
Hip replacement mortality halved
The number of people who die following a hip replacement has dropped dramatically, evidence suggests.
New research published in the Lancet medical journal shows that death rates following hip replacement surgery fell by half in England and Wales between 2003 and 2011.
In an analysis of over 400,000 patients, researchers found that mortality decreased from 0.56% to 0.29%. Factors that improved the survival rate include the use of a spinal anaesthetic as it is likely to lead to fewer complications, fitter patients and better physiotherapy.
The study said: “More recent generations of old people... are generally fitter and less frail than old people at the start of the study. Likewise, other aspects of surgery and anaesthesia have improved sufficiently to account for the change in mortality rates.”
A spokesperson from Arthritis Research UK, said: “This is great news for people in the UK who have osteoarthritis and require hip replacement surgery.
“Although not everyone who has arthritis will need hip replacement surgery, for many people, it's their only hope to reduce the pain, disability and stiffness associated with the disease.
“There are however always risks associated in having major surgery such as hip replacement surgery, so we advise people to discuss these risks with their surgeon before they decide to have a hip replacement.”
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