Hip replacement

Implantable devices, such as hip replacements and heart valves, are a central part of medical treatment today. Americans receive about 370,000 cardiac pacemakers and about 1 million total hip and knee replacements per year. Despite how common the use of implantable devices is, little information is…

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When Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, 61, went in for knee surgery last month, he thought it was no biggie. After all, half a million older Americans this year will do the exact same thing - get a worn-out, aching knee joint replaced.

When it comes to artificial hip and knee joints, new doesn't necessarily trump old.