I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees. The doctor wants me to have them replaced. The way everything is changing with technology, would it be better to wait until joint implants are improved?

More than a quarter million people have total knee replacements (TKRs) every year in the United States. More than 90 percent of those patients get good pain relief and improved function. Only a small number of patients have problems requiring another operation.

There are two ways to improve TKRs. One is to improve the joint implant itself. Companies that make the implant are looking for ways to make it last longer with less wear and tear. They also want an implant that works well with all activities.

The second way to improve results of TKR is to give good medical care. The fewer problems patients have, the better the outcome. Improving hospital care can reduce the number of deaths, infection, and pneumonia or blood clots.

Take your doctor's advice when you are ready. Joint replacements improve the lives of 1000s of sufferers every year. Your best bet is to find a surgeon who does this operation in the same hospital many times each year.