Hip Replacement Complications: Risk Higher in Obese Women

Hip replacement complications are more common for obese patients, especially obese women. According to a study published in the March 2007 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, researchers studied all patients who underwent total hip replacement surgery at Geneva University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland between March 1996 and July 2005. Of 2,495 hip replacements, 589 were performed on obese patients. Results revealed that obesity was associated with:

• a subtantially higher risk for infection for women, but not men
• a higher dislocation rate, with a greater increase for women
• a higher rate of surgical revision (i.e. re-doing the replacement) due to septic loosening

After 5 years, obese women (but not obese men) reported moderately lower functional outcomes and slightly less satisfaction compared to non-obese patients, largely due to the higher incidence of complications. Researchers concluded that the reasons for gender differences may include: body fat distribution, metabolic response, and lower peripheral muscle strength. Because obese women appear to be a group with increased rate of complications, researchers suggest that surgeons talk to their patients about the risks.

Related Resources:

• Hip Replacements Can Loosen
• Too Young for Joint Replacement?
• How to Recover From Hip Replacement Surgery
• Joint Replacement Surgery: When is it the Right Time?
• Total Hip Replacement: Preventing Post-op Blood Clots
• Exercise Prior to Joint Replacement May Decrease Need for Post-op Rehabilitation

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_{Photo by Jasmin Awad (iStockphoto)}