Baby boomers becoming the replacement generation

The Associated Press reports that knee and hip replacement surgeries are on the rise for the baby boomer generation, not because of obesity, but because of their efforts to stay fit.

The Associated Press: Baby Boomers Fueling Boom In Knee, Hip Surgeries
We're becoming a nation of bum knees, worn-out hips and sore shoulders, and it's not just the Medicare set. Baby boomer bones and joints also are taking a pounding, spawning a boom in operations to fix them. Knee replacement surgeries have doubled over the last decade and more than tripled in the 45-to-64 age group, new research shows. Hips are trending that way, too. And here's a surprise: It's not all due to obesity. Ironically, trying to stay fit and avoid extra pounds is taking a toll on a generation that expects bad joints can be swapped out like old tires on a car (Marchione, 5/23).

Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune begins a series on medical device issues — especially regarding clinical and regulatory scrutiny of new ones.

Chicago Tribune: Patients At Heart Of Medical Device Issue
Patients in need of permanently implantable, life-sustaining medical devices may assume that the products have undergone rigorous clinical and regulatory scrutiny and that rules put in place to protect their rights are enforced to the letter of the law. Part 1 (Shelton and Grotto, 5/22).