How Young Is Too Young for a Total Hip Replacement?

When you hear someone talk about total hip replacement, you probably associate this surgery with older adults who have decades of wear-and-tear damage to their joints. But younger people with certain injuries or disease might also benefit from hip replacement surgery.

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Kevin Park, MD, and the team at his private practice in Houston, Texas, help restore function and mobility to damaged and diseased hip joints with direct anterior and posterior hip replacement surgeries.

If you’re a younger adult considering a total hip replacement or the parent of a child with hip problems, take a moment to learn why this surgery could help and when it might be time to consider a total hip replacement.

Younger people and total hip replacements

Hip replacements are most common among people over 60, since most of the conditions that lead to the surgery are progressive and degenerative. But there are times when a hip replacement is right for a younger adult or even a child.

Traumatic injury

Hip injuries can trigger the need for a total hip replacement in younger adults. Traumatic injuries can damage the joint, making surgery necessary.

Damage from injuries related to high-impact trauma (e.g., car accidents, falls), severe dislocations, and significant labral (cartilage) tears from repetitive or overuse can make a hip replacement necessary sooner rather than later.

Congenital or developmental issues

Sometimes children are born with or develop certain conditions, like developmental dysplasia or Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, that can cause ongoing and debilitating hip issues. Issues like these can mean improper growth and alignment of the joints and/or bones, causing the hip joint to deteriorate faster than usual.

Osteoarthritis

Although osteoarthritis is common among older people, it can also affect younger people. Early-onset osteoarthritis can develop due to factors such as:

Genetics
Joint injuries
Obesity
Repetitive stress on the hip joint

When conservative therapies aren’t enough to give you relief and your quality of life suffers, a hip replacement could be the right solution.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Some younger adults with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder that affects the joints, experience ongoing inflammation, pain, and damage to the cartilage in their hip joints. A hip replacement could help when less invasive therapies no longer help manage symptoms.

Avascular necrosis

When you experience a temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to your hip joint, you can develop avascular necrosis. This condition can cause your bone tissue to die, leading to the collapse of the hip joint.

Younger adults can develop avascular necrosis due to trauma, excessive alcohol consumption, or prolonged corticosteroid use. A hip replacement can restore function and ease the pain associated with this condition.

The right age for a hip replacement

There isn’t a set age cutoff for a hip replacement, but the decision to move forward with a total hip replacement in younger people is one to make carefully and under the guidance of an experienced joint specialist.

In some cases, Dr. Park may recommend hip preservation surgery to delay hip replacement.

Dr. Park considers multiple factors when recommending a hip replacement for a younger person, including your overall health and lifestyle, the severity of your symptoms, the underlying cause of your hip joint damage or deterioration, and the success (or failure) of nonsurgical interventions.

Some younger adults worry about having repeat surgery if the prosthetic wears out. Fortunately, modern hip replacement prosthetics are made to last, and over 90% of patients keep their original hip replacements for 20 years or longer.

Signs it’s time to talk about total hip replacement

If you think you might need a hip replacement, seek an evaluation from a medical provider who specializes in joint replacement surgery. Dr. Park evaluates your condition and makes personalized hip joint treatment recommendations.

While symptoms vary depending on the underlying reason for your hip joint issue, some common signs it’s time to consider a total hip replacement include:

Chronic hip pain that worsens with movement and bearing weight, and doesn’t respond to conservative therapies
Limited range of motion that makes everyday tasks difficult
Hip pain that persists when you’re at rest
Pain and stiffness in the hip that makes it difficult for you walk or move
Signs of cartilage loss, bone-on-bone contact, or structural issues on X-rays or other imaging studies

If you’re a younger adult and are concerned you might need a total hip replacement, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with Dr. Park by calling our Houston office or by booking online now.