Shaq Had a Hip Replacement - Will I Need One if I Played Sports?

Even one of the greatest hoop players of all time can’t avoid wear and tear on the joints. Earlier this month, former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaq had a hip replacement – a custom-sized one, most likely, for his 7’1”, 325-pound frame.

While 51 might seem young for such a surgery, Daniel Witmer, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with the Hartford HealthCare Bone & Joint Institute, says it’s not unusual, especially given the physical nature of O’Neal’s career.

“The most common age for patients to undergo hip replacement is 50-80, although they can be performed at almost any age,” Dr. Witmer explains. “The youngest hip replacement patient I’ve taken care of was 16 and the oldest 102.”

Worried that your sports background has destined you for a hip replacement down the road? Dr. Witmer offers factors that can cause young people to need surgery, the potential impact of sports and what life looks like after hip replacement. Look here.