July 2 : Mark Hanlon, who turns 74 in July, is more active than many people half his age. After two knee replacements, two hip replacements, a shoulder surgery and several ankle surgeries, the Long Island resident says, “everything works and I have a full, productive life.”
The retired attorney is super athletic, with an activity for every season and most days of the week. Sailing, sculling, tennis, bicycling, snow skiing and open-water swimming keep him busy year-round. He credits his ability to enjoy these activities to the joint replacements he had over the years to relieve advanced arthritis. Four months after his last knee replacement, he went skiing in Vermont.
Increasing numbers of people of all ages are adamant about maintaining active lifestyles, and joint replacement surgery makes that possible, says Fred D. Cushner, MD, a knee surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and at HSS Long Island who performed Mr. Hanlon’s knee replacements.
More than one hip or knee replacement is not uncommon. Advances in robotic-assisted surgery, improvements in implant design and surgical techniques, and advances in pain control benefit patients, according to Dr. Cushner. “We see patients in their 80s and 90s who do very well after the surgery,” he says. These days, most joint replacements at HSS are performed using regional (as opposed to general) anesthesia, and many people leave the hospital the same day they have surgery.
Mr. Hanlon had his first hip replacement at Hospital for Special Surgery more than 20 years ago, and it’s still holding up. Years later, at age 66, he felt the same pain in his other hip, and he had a second hip replacement at HSS. This time, with advances in surgical technique and technology, the former attorney says, “I was up and about the following day, and in six weeks I had forgotten all about it.” He says more aging meant more arthritis, and in 2024 he had both knees replaced in two separate surgeries by Dr. Cushner.
Mr. Hanlon and his wife recently returned from a trip to Mexico where they participated in an open-water swimming vacation designed for adventurous travelers who are experienced in swimming substantial distances from one location to another. He plans to go skiing in Chile with his two sons next month. Plus, he just booked a sculling tour on the Loire River in France for next year.
Mr. Hanlon, who has no intention of slowing down, posted a video of himself skiing on the HSS Back in the Game website. In the clip, he thanks HSS for “the replacement parts” and for more than 22 great seasons of skiing.
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