Average Age of Hip Replacement Surgery
The average age of patients undergoing hip replacement surgery is 77 years, with approximately two-thirds being female and one-third being male. 1
Key Demographic Data
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, approximately 325,000 hip fractures requiring surgical intervention occur annually in the United States in patients with a mean age of 77 years 1
For elective total hip replacement performed for osteoarthritis (rather than fracture), the patient population tends to be somewhat younger, with significant numbers of procedures performed in the 55-74 year age range 2
Age Distribution Patterns
Hip replacement surgery is commonly performed across a wide age spectrum, with studies documenting outcomes in patients as young as their 50s and extending well into the 80s and beyond 2, 3
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons guidelines for hip fracture management specifically target adults aged 55 years and older, with studies requiring a median age of 65 years 1
Research demonstrates that patients aged 80 years and older represent a substantial proportion of hip replacement recipients, with mean ages in this cohort typically around 83 years 3
Clinical Context by Age Group
Patients aged 55-74 years undergoing hip replacement for osteoarthritis show excellent functional recovery, with SF-36 scores improving to equal or exceed population norms on all scales at 12 months post-surgery 2
Patients aged 75 years and over also demonstrate significant improvement in quality of life measures, with scores becoming similar to population norms for their age group, though they may experience higher complication rates 2, 3
Patients aged 80 and older can achieve good or excellent results in 88% of cases at one year, though they face higher mortality rates (particularly in the first three months) and dislocation rates compared to younger patients 3
Important Clinical Considerations
Age alone should not be a barrier to hip replacement surgery, as older patients benefit significantly in terms of pain relief, improved mobility, and regaining independence in activities of daily living 4
The indication for surgery affects outcomes: patients undergoing hip replacement for degenerative joint disease have lower complication rates compared to those operated on for fracture complications, particularly regarding dislocation risk 3
Younger patients undergoing total hip replacement for ankylosing spondylitis or other conditions have a mean age around 40 years, which is considerably younger than the typical osteoarthritis population 1