The typical knee-replacement patient is still a white retiree. But researchers have found a trend toward younger, more diverse patients having the surgery…
Rafael Sierra, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon and senior author on the study, pointed out in a statement that "total knee replacement is becoming a more established procedure." He added, "We're also getting better at it. We have better materials that are longer-lasting. So we feel more comfortable performing it on younger people now."
Washington Post, by Nancy Szokan, 3/15/2010