Something I have learned over the past many years - statistics will not convince someone who is living with fear of the unknown. You need to uncover and address the reasons behind the fear...

Have you asked your friend why she is so fearful of infection? Does she have a past history, or does she know someone whose implant got infected? Is she higher risk due to diabetes or an autoimmune condition? Does she fear the pain of surgery, or worry about her ability to do the work to recover?

Ask her what the one reason, above any, why she would like to have new hips - mobility, freedom from pain, independence... Is she a "young 70" with many years of healthy life probably ahead of her? Or does she have health problems that will likely make recovery more difficult, or a long life unlikely?

Your concern about additional deterioration is also real. Replacement is more complicated if there is a fracture, risks of complication go up, and recovery can take longer. Ask her how she will manage if she breaks a hip and it cannot be repaired? Or if the damage gets bad enough that she can no longer take care of herself or needs to be in a wheelchair?

Now that there are more questions for you to ponder, are you more ready to have another conversation with her? Maybe uncover the real thought process behind her reluctance?

You are a good friend to be concerned, and with successful surgeries behind you, you could be in an ideal situation to help her make a decision based on information, not fear.

Sue