This number differs from the 15 years that many physicians had previously thought, according to DrugWatch.com.
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According to the study, a total of 128 of the patients were still living, and all but two of them were still able to walk up and down stairs without using a banister. The majority of the living patients were not experiencing any complications with their knee replacement.
"Although aging may cause a gradual decline in physical activity after [total knee replacement], improved functional outcomes continue over the long term," said the researchers. "Our results indicate that this group of patients demonstrates remarkable functional capacity over 20 years after the index arthroplasty."
Zimmer Inc. is headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, according to the company's Web site.