How Old Is Too Old for Joint Replacement?

Trevor Murray, MD, has replaced joints in people in their late 80s. And, his colleagues in Cleveland Clinics Department of Orthopaedic Surgery have performed the operations on centenarians. These patients exemplify a growing philosophy in orthopaedic surgery: Age is no barrier to joint replacement. With advances in surgery, anesthesia, and pain management, nearly anyone whos healthy enough is a candidate for a new knee, hip, or other joint-regardless of age.