Why Physicians Must Be Involved in Joint Replacement Strategies

In the long run, "we'll find out what innovations" in orthopedic care are paying off, she says.

Joint replacement care will steadily increase with the aging population. And unlike the one tennis player who had two knee surgeries, most people with joint problems don't have surgery, says Todd Davis, vice-president of marketing and developing for Biomet, a Warsaw, IN, manufacturer of orthopedic devices.

"Many people choose not to get (joint surgery) because of the lack of knowledge, fear, or the costs" Davis says. "If these people were included in the projected increases of surgery in the population, the numbers would be off the charts."