Questions & Answers · Knee
How long does a knee replacement last?
Modern knee replacements commonly last 15–20 years or more — long-term registry studies show roughly 80–90% of implants still working at the 20-year mark. How long yours lasts depends mostly on four things: your activity choices, your body weight, your bone quality, and how precisely the implant was placed.
What shortens an implant's life
- High-impact repetition — running on pavement and jump-heavy sports wear plastic faster than golf, cycling, and swimming.
- Excess weight — every added pound multiplies across a few million yearly steps.
- Infection or trauma — the wildcard causes, which is why we take both seriously for life.
What extends it
- Precise placement — implants aligned to plan wear evenly; this is the practical case for robotic assistance.
- Strong muscles around the joint — rehab isn't a formality; it's armor for your implant.
- Staying active the smart way — motion is good; impact is the tax.
And if it wears out?
Revision surgery replaces a worn or failed implant. It's more complex than a first replacement and belongs in experienced hands — it's a dedicated part of our practice. If you're 55 today, plan for the strong possibility your first knee is also your last.
The other half of a long-lasting joint: the rehab
Implant materials set the ceiling — rehab decides how close you get to it. The knees that reach the 20-plus-year end of the range belong to patients whose muscles learned to protect the new joint. That's why our 38-person rehab team works in the same buildings as our surgeons: your therapist and your surgeon share one chart, one hallway, and one plan for making this knee your last one. Doctors, surgery center, PT — under one roof is not a slogan here; it's the outcome strategy.
Medically reviewed by Keith W.V. Johnson, MD, FAAOS · Updated September 28, 2026