A number of Joint Replacements Enable Adults of All Ages to Keep Lively Life

Mark Hanlon, who turns 74 in July, is extra energetic than many individuals half his age. After two knee replacements, two hip replacements, a shoulder surgical procedure and several other ankle surgical procedures, the Long Island resident says, “everything works and I have a full, productive life.”

The retired lawyer is tremendous athletic, with an exercise for each season and most days of the week. Sailing, sculling, tennis, bicycling, snow snowboarding and open-water swimming preserve him busy year-round. He credit his capacity to get pleasure from these actions to the joint replacements he had through the years to alleviate superior arthritis. Four months after his final knee substitute, he went snowboarding in Vermont. 

Increasing numbers of individuals of all ages are adamant about sustaining energetic life, and joint substitute surgical procedure makes that doable, says Fred D. Cushner, MD, a knee surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City and at HSS Long Island who carried out Mr. Hanlon’s knee replacements.

More than one hip or knee substitute isn’t unusual. Advances in robotic-assisted surgical procedure, enhancements in implant design and surgical strategies, and advances in ache management profit sufferers, in keeping with Dr. Cushner. “We see patients in their 80s and 90s who do very well after the surgery,” he says. These days, most joint replacements at HSS are carried out utilizing regional (versus normal) anesthesia, and many individuals depart the hospital the identical day they’ve surgical procedure.

Mr. Hanlon had his first hip substitute at Hospital for Special Surgery greater than 20 years in the past, and it’s nonetheless holding up.  Years later, at age 66, he felt the identical ache in his different hip, and he had a second hip substitute at HSS. This time, with advances in surgical approach and know-how, the previous lawyer says, “I was up and about the following day, and in six weeks I had forgotten all about it.” He says extra getting older meant extra arthritis, and in 2024 he had each knees changed in two separate surgical procedures by Dr. Cushner.

Mr. Hanlon and his spouse lately returned from a visit to Mexico the place they participated in an open-water swimming trip designed for adventurous vacationers who’re skilled in swimming substantial distances from one location to a different. He plans to go snowboarding in Chile along with his two sons subsequent month. Plus, he simply booked a sculling tour on the Loire River in France for subsequent yr. 

Mr. Hanlon, who has no intention of slowing down, posted a video of himself snowboarding on the HSS Back in the Game web site. In the clip, he thanks HSS for “the replacement parts” and for greater than 22 nice seasons of snowboarding. 

About HSS

HSS is the world’s main tutorial medical heart centered on musculoskeletal well being. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the sixteenth consecutive yr), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2025-2026), and the most effective pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” listing (2025-2026). In a survey of medical professionals in additional than 20 international locations by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive yr (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the bottom readmission charges within the nation for orthopedics, and among the many lowest an infection and complication charges. HSS was the primary in New York State to obtain Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center 5 consecutive occasions. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a primary campus in New York City and services in New Jersey, Connecticut and within the Long Island and Westchester County areas of New York State, in addition to in Florida. In addition to affected person care, HSS leads the sphere in analysis, innovation and schooling. The HSS Research Institute includes 20 laboratories and 300 employees members centered on main the development of musculoskeletal well being via prevention of degeneration, tissue restore and tissue regeneration. In addition, greater than 200 HSS scientific investigators are working to enhance affected person outcomes via higher methods to forestall, diagnose, and deal with orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal illnesses. The HSS Innovation Institute works to appreciate the potential of recent medicine, therapeutics and units. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted chief in advancing musculoskeletal data and analysis for physicians, nurses, allied well being professionals, tutorial trainees, and customers in additional than 165 international locations. The establishment is collaborating with medical facilities and different organizations to advance the standard and worth of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care extra extensively accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.