Dive Brief:
- Americans growing older and heavier is driving demand for total knee replacements, which nearly doubled from 2000 to 2010, according to research released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- From 2008-2010, data show this elective surgery was the most frequently performed inpatient procedure for adults 45 and over. An estimated 693,400 of these inpatient procedures for adults above 45 were performed in 2010.
- The demand has raised the annual US market for knee implants to about $4 billion, estimates Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Jason McGorman.
Dive Insight:
Along with demand, the cost for total knee replacements has also risen. While the price varies significantly by region and hospital, the average inflation-adjusted price went up from $13,873 in 2000 to $16,556 in 2012, according to CDC data.
However, the procedures are considered very cost-effective because they can help patients avoid disability or other care.
One caveat: the growth in the number of procedures performed may not be entirely warranted. Some patients with only mild pain or impairment find the benefits negligible.
"The actual eligibility criteria for [total knee replacement] is by definition vague," Daniel Riddle, a physical therapist and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, told Bloomberg. Riddle undertook a study of 205 knee replacements and concluded nearly one-third were inappropriate.