Historical Collections Historical Timeline Stories Virtual Tour
 

1751 - 1800

1801 - 1850

1851 - 1900

1901 - 1950

1951 - Today

JOINT REPLACEMENTS

In 1970, the first joint replacement in the Philadelphia area was performed at Pennsylvania Hospital. The typical joint replacement patient in the early days of the procedure was a frail woman in her mid-sixties who could be expected to spend three weeks in the hospital recuperating. Because patients were able to return to a normal, active lifestyle, they often outlived the ten-year lifespan of the replacement devices, prompting them to return for another surgery and implant.

Now, over 2,000 joint replacements are done at Pennsylvania Hospital every year, more than at any other hospital in North America. Patients are anywhere from 40 to 90 years old and usually leave the hospital within a week. The success rate for the prostheses is 99%, and the replacement devices now stand the test of time, wear and tear.

Learn more about Joint Replacement Service at Penn

Return to 1951 - Today

 

 



About Penn Medicine   Contact Us   Site Map   HIPAA and Privacy   Legal Disclaimer   Terms of Use

Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 800-789-PENN © 2017, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania