With the aging population of baby boomers, the number of joint replacement procedures is rising steadily. But the risks and benefits of surgery might not be the same for every patient.

If you're about to get a hip or knee replacement, you're going to need anesthesia to numb the pain during surgery. There are different types of anesthesia to choose from. So which one leads to the best outcomes?

Older adults who take a bad fall or blow to the hip might need to act quickly. If the hip's fractured, there's no time to delay.

While less than 5 percent of knee implant recipients go back under the knife for adjustments, certain patients are more unhappy with the results than others.

Pain in the knees might make it difficult to work, especially if the job is labor intensive. Most patients who opt for surgery to get a new knee can certainly go back to the work.

Women considering a new knee have a choice: a standard knee replacement designed for either gender or a knee that's made just for the ladies. 

One major consideration when undergoing knee replacement surgery is whether the new knee will actually be an improvement over the original knee.

Hip replacements are meant to give patients improved mobility and pain relief. But sometimes, hip replacement patients have post-surgery pain that doctors cannot explain. New research may offer an explanation.

Total hip replacement and smoking cigarettes just don’t mix. That's because smoking can cramp the healing process. Even quitting just before surgery is better than not quitting at all.

Osteoarthritis in the knee or hip can make intimacy difficult between couples. Surgery to replace painful joints could help.