Hospitalization for Total Hip Replacement Among Inpatients Aged 45 and Over: United States, 2000–2010

Total hip replacement, in which both the head of the femur and its socket are replaced, is done to restore movement to hips damaged by osteoarthritis, late-stage degenerative bone and cartilage disease, or other injuries and disease. The number of total hip replacements is expected to increase over the next few decades.

A new NCHS report show trends and estimates of the number and rate of total hip replacements and average length of stay among inpatients aged 45 and over.

Key Findings from the Report:

• In 2010, 310,800 total hip replacements were performed among inpatients aged 45 and over.
• The number and rate of total hip replacements among inpatients aged 45 and over increased from 2000 to 2010: from 138,700 to 310,800 in number and from a rate of 142.2 to 257.0 per 100,000 population.
• The age distribution of inpatients aged 45 and over who received total hip replacements changed significantly between 2000 and 2010, with the percentage of total hip replacements increasing for younger age groups and decreasing for older age groups.
• The average length of stay after total hip replacement among inpatients aged 45 and over decreased from 2000 to 2010, from nearly 5 days to just under 4 days.