Obese hip replacement patients 'more likely to suffer complications'

New research has shown that obese patients who undergo total hip replacement surgery to treat their osteoarthritis (OA) are more likely to suffer from post-surgical complications.

A team from Geneva University Hospitals published their results in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.

They pointed out that obesity has been associated with a higher prevalence of hip OA, but that there were few studies about the post-surgical problems that overweight people experienced following the operation.

The new study focused on 204 patients who underwent hip replacement surgery at the university's hospital between 1966 and 2006.

Using height and weight data obtained just before surgery, it was discovered that 25 per cent of the sample had a very high body mass index (BMI).

It was discovered that, in the five years following surgery, 33 per cent of the obese patients suffered complications, compared to just nine per cent of the lighter patients.

Obese patients were more likely to suffer surgical site infections and dislocations.

Study author Dr Anne Lubbeke commented: "Surgeons, patients, and referring physicians should be aware of an increased risk in this patient group.

"Further studies are necessary to evaluate whether changes in medical preparation, surgical technique, and implant choice can help reduce the adverse event rate in obese patients undergoing revision hip replacement."

An Arthritis Research Campaign spokesman said: "Obesity is a major risk factor for developing OA and patients who undergo both hip and knee replacement surgery should strive to maintain an optimum weight in order to gain maximum benefit from the operation."

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