From the Popular Press: What Your Patients are Reading:

Researchers at Geneva University Hospitals in Switzerland found that obese patients are more likely to experience complications following revision hip replacement surgery. In a study of 114 women and 90 men (mean age 71.6) who underwent revision (second) total hip arthroplasty, the researchers uncovcered a strong correlation between obesity and increased risk of adverse events. Complications experiences by obese patients included infection, dislocation, lower functional gains, and more persistent pain. Patients with a BMI of 30 were 4 times more likely to suffer a post-surgical infection, while patients with a BMI of 35 or over were 10.5 times more likely to have complications after hip replacement. At the end of a 5-year evaluation period, obese patients experienced moderately lower functional improvements from their hip replacement, as well as greater levels of routine hip pain. Further studies are needed to assess whether changes in surgical preparation, technique, and implant choices can combat such adverse events in obese patients.

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