46 yr old needs reconstructive knee surgery. his dr says wait until he's 50. why?

Total knee?: Problem is that total joints don't last forever so we try to delay total joints as long as possible so that you get one that will last you the rest of your life.

Its complicated: There are pros/cons.... The main con: surgeries do not give you a perfect knee. They buy you some more time, but the knee still will have a limited working life or "tread life". The younger you are, the more active you are, and the faster you hit the tread limit. And then revision surgery #2 can be hellacious w/a capital h. But here's a story: http://www.Rush.Edu/rumc/page-r11731.Html.