Total joint replacement in the elderly patient.

Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee is extremely common in the growing elderly population. Total joint replacement (TJR) of the hip and knee are extremely effective procedures, resulting in decreased pain and improved function and quality of life in patients of all age groups including the elderly. The prevalence and use of TJR is increasing at a significant rate, therefore increased awareness of perioperative issues following TJR among health care providers is of paramount importance. Although elderly patients may be slightly more susceptible to perioperative complications, long-term success rates remain high, and careful perioperative monitoring and preventative measures have resulted in high rates of patient safety and few adverse outcomes in the elderly. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.