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THURSDAY, Feb. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- The number of hip replacements performed in the United States has increased substantially, and the procedure has become more common in younger people, new government statistics show.
The numbers reveal the rapid evolution of the procedure, which "remains one of the most dramatic and cost-effective ways to improve the quality of life for patients," said Dr. Mark Pagnano, chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
"Recovery is dramatically easier for patients, the durability of hip replacements has improved, and the baby boomer generation is less willing to accept the limitations that accompany arthritis," added Pagnano, who was not involved in the study.
