Everything seems faster these days -- including rehab and recovery from total hip and total knee replacements. In this study from Denmark, a group of researchers compared patients in a standard rehab program for joint replacements compared with an accelerated program. They looked at two things: cost and effectiveness. They found a big cost savings with the accelerated approach for both hip and knee replacements. The accelerated approach was more effective with hip replacements.

It looks like the law of supply and demand is at issue here. Simply stated, more people will want and need a hip or knee replacement than there are surgeons to provide them. Right now, almost three-fourths of a million adults in the United States get a new hip or knee every year. That number is expected to top one million very quickly. It is predicted that by the year 2016, half of all patients who need a hip replacement won't be able to get one.

Total hip replacements are well designed but still only last 10 to 15 years for the average patient. Younger, more active patients put more stress on the implants than older, sedentary adults. So if the implant only lasts a decade or so, another surgery is going to be needed. With each operation, there is a small amount of bone loss and the potential for problems. Studies have shown surgeons the need to evaluate each patient carefully and avoid surgery too early in the disease process.

Hip replacements are made from a variety of materials such as ceramic, polyethylene (plastic) and metals such as titanium, high-carbide cobalt, and chrome. A popular implant has a metal-on-metal (MOM) design. It gives the hip smooth action. But with repeated motions, flecks of metal ions are released into the joint and into the blood stream.

Surprisingly, even with today's high-speed technology and ultra-fast communications, not everyone has the same information or ideas about treatment. And that's true even for common problems like hip osteoarthritis.

You may be referring to the recently published Clinical Practice Guidelines for physical therapists treating patients with primary or posttraumatic hip osteoarthritis. Although these were written for physical therapists, there's nothing wrong with you taking these to your therapist and asking if you have covered everything in treatment that's appropriate for your situation.

There's a move in the medical world to help health care professionals get on the same page. What does that mean? Well, if you have a health problem, condition, illness, disease, or injury -- no matter where you live, you should get the same top quality treatment based on the best evidence currently available.

Most people would be surprised to know that total hip replacements (THRs) have been around since the 1930s. Today's successful use of THRs reflects the many implant changes in design and materials that have taken place since those early attempts.

Here's a problem the Baby Boomers probably never thought they would face: not enough surgeons available to perform all the hip and knee replacements that are needed now. And it's not just the aging Baby Boomers who are affected. More and more younger patients (younger than 65) find themselves in the same boat. Experts say the problem is going to get worse before it gets better.

That's a very good question. It might be helpful to think about your father's level of activity before the hip fracture. This will help you identify what he could do before the injury and set that as the end-goal or at least the focus of your/his direction.