Call to reduce joint replacement surgery
Growth in demand seen as unsustainable
7th February 2018
The number of Australians having joint replacements for osteoarthritis is growing at an "unsustainable" rate despite evidence that about a quarter of patients don't need surgery, say musculoskeletal experts.
A report — released on Wednesday by the muscle, bone and joint health charity MOVE and Medibank — shows that in 2016 nearly 100,000 Australians received joint replacements to treat osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, at an estimated cost of over $2 billion.
The data also show that between 1994 and 2014 Victoria had a 175%