The number of Australians having joint replacements for osteoarthritis is growing at an “unsustainable” rate. This is despite evidence that a quarter of patients don’t need surgery, say musculoskeletal experts. A report by the muscle, bone and joint health charity MOVE and Medibank in 2016 showed 100,000 Australians received joint replacements to treat osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. This totalled over $2 billion. The Data The data also show that between 1994 and 2014 Victoria had a 175% increase in hip replacements and 285% increase in knee replacements, with no sign of demand slowing. To curb the costly trend, the report calls for a new
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