Hip replacement reduces heart failure, depression and diabetes risk

[Northerner]

In addition to improving life quality and diminishing pain, total hip replacement (THR) is associated with reduced mortality, heart failure, depression and diabetes rates in Medicare patients with osteoarthritis, according to a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The procedure also is cost effective with the 7-year costs of THR only $6,366 higher than the cost of treating an osteoarthritis patient for hip pain without THR.

"The study has demonstrated that THR confers a potential long-term benefit in terms of prolonged lifespan and reduced burden of disease in Medicare patients with osteoarthritis of the hip," said lead study author Scott Lovald, PhD, a researcher at Exponent, Inc. While the short-term benefits of THR are well known and documented, less information exists on the long-term effects, cost and value of the surgery.

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-hip-heart-failure-depression-diabetes.html

Presumably, only if you actually need a hip transplant...😉

 

[LeeLee]

Hmmm. Look who's presenting the case. Of course there are benefits, on cost as well as well-being - but there's no mention of the more complex revision ops when the replacements wear out after a few years.

 

[Vicsetter]

Of course chopping the head off is a well known complete cure for diabetes and heart disease