New Research Shows Hip Implants Last Far Longer Than Expected
CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The first question marathon runner Jim Piko asked before his hip replacement surgery 25 years ago from Dr. Richard A. Berger was: "How long will it last?" Today, Piko, who is 80 years old and still running races and winning, says "Pretty darn long."
For years, studies showed that a hip or knee replacement lasted only about 15 years, leaving many patients anxious about a revision operation later in life. That was especially true in the late 1900s, when older implant materials wore out faster. New evidence shows how far artificial joints have come.
A study published in The Lancet in February 2026 analyzed nearly 1.9 million hip replacements drawn from eight national joint registries, alongside 29 long-term clinical studies spanning 18 countries. The research showed that implants are still standing the test of time at 30 years post-surgery. The study concluded:
Dr. Berger is an orthopedic surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR) in Chicago who performed the world's first outpatient total hip and knee replacements in 2001. He developed his own minimally invasive technique that spares muscle, tendon, and ligaments. Piko was among the first group of patients to undergo the outpatient procedure.
"It was amazing. I walked immediately after surgery and slept in my own bed that night," recalls Piko, a former Boston Marathon finisher. "Within a few months I was back running races, and I haven't stopped. Lately I switched to 5Ks and always take first place in my age group."
"Jim is a remarkable example, but he's not an exception," says Dr. Berger. "With modern implant materials and a tissue-sparing approach, I tell patients to expect an active life for decades."
At Rush University Medical Center's research laboratories, scientists study implant performance over time. Their research about implant materials shows why implants fail and helps manufacturers develop materials that last significantly longer and are less damaging to surrounding bone and tissue.
For patients weighing joint replacement, the combined message from the registry data and from clinicians like Dr. Berger is that for most patients, a revision surgery is far less likely than it once was.
ABOUT DR. BERGER
For more information about Dr. Berger or to book an appointment, visit www.outpatienthipandknee.com or call 312-432-2557.
Instagram: @DrRichardBerger. Facebook: DrRichardBerger.
ABOUT MIDWEST ORTHOPAEDICS AT RUSH
U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks MOR among the top 10 orthopedic programs nationwide and it receives the highest rating in Illinois and Indiana.
SOURCE Dr. Richard Berger, Midwet Orthopaedics at Rush
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