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UNDATED (AP) — Joint replacement is enjoying a boom, thanks, in part, to Baby Boomers.
Doctors report more than 2 of every 100 Americans now have an artificial joint.
Among those over 50, it's even more common: Five percent have replaced a knee and more than 2 percent, a hip. Roughly 7 million people in the United States are living with a total hip or knee replacement.
Dr. Daniel J. Berry, chairman of orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic, says "people are aware that they're a success" and are less willing to put up with painful joints.
He led the first major study to estimate how prevalent these procedures have become. Results are being reported at an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference in New Orleans.
The number of replacements is expected to grow as the population ages, raising questions about cost, durability and replacing the replacements.
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296-c-19-(Ross Simpson, AP correspondent)-"and less mobility"-AP correspondent Ross Simpson reports the term replacement is a little misleading. (10 Mar 2014)
<<CUT *296 (03/10/14)££ 00:19 "and less mobility"
297-c-19-(Ross Simpson, AP correspondent)-"people under 65"-AP correspondent Ross Simpson reports arthritis is the main reason for these operations, followed by obesity which adds stress on knees and hips. (10 Mar 2014)
<<CUT *297 (03/10/14)££ 00:19 "people under 65"
295-v-33-(Ross Simpson, AP correspondent)--It's not just Grandma with a new hip and your uncle with a new knee. Doctors are reporting more than 2 of every 100 Americans now have an artificial joint. AP correspondent Ross Simpson reports. (10 Mar 2014)
<<CUT *295 (03/10/14)££ 00:33
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