Vnitr Lek 2015, 61(6):571-573

Obesity and orthopedic surgery, or else do mechanical complications of obesity exist?

Štěpán Svačina

III. interní klinika 1. LF UK a VFN Praha, přednosta prof. MUDr. Štěpán Svačina, DrSc., MBA

Arthroses of weight-bearing joints and vertebrogenic problems are characteristic diseases of the obese. However the extreme risk is associated in particular with the combination with metabolic syndrome. Arthroses of bearing joints thus do not only present a mechanical complication of obesity, but also a metabolic complication. Similarly, the risk of venous thromboembolism which involves all orthopedic surgeries, is associated with both a rising BMI and hormonal condition (use of hormones and the like.). A joint replacement surgery can be typically performed on patients with a weight of up to 90 kg or BMI below 30. A preparation aimed at decreasing BMI to reach these values significantly reduces the risk of postoperative complications. However it is also necessary for the patient to maintain the reduced weight.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; knee joint replacement; hip joint replacement; mechanical complications of obesity; metabolic complications of obesity; metabolic syndrome; obesity; surgery related risk; venous tromboembolizmus

Received: May 24, 2015; Accepted: May 27, 2015; Published: June 1, 2015  Show citation