Obesity Can Cause Complications after a Joint Replacement
Obesity
is a serious worldwide problem. And approximately
one third of the U.S. population is obese. Experts
throughout the world are continuing to investigate
the disease in an attempt to develop more effective
therapies to fight obesity. This work is important,
since obesity increases the risks of comorbidities,
including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and
heart disease. Further, some experts suggest that
there is a link between obesity and Alzheimer’s.
Obesity can also lead to hip and knee replacements,
and an increased risk of complications after the
replacements.
Of course extra body weight is going to negatively affect a person's joints by putting extra pressure on body parts. Therefore, it should be expected that obesity would be associated with increased joint replacements. Indeed, "The number of total knee replacement surgeries more than tripled between 1993 and 2009, and experts say that this is linked to the increasing rate of obesity in the United States."
Moreover, studies have shown that obesity increases the risk of complications post joint replacement. A study done at The Mayo Clinic concluded that obesity adds to the complications after hip replacements. According to the researchers, 'there is a much higher complication rate -- more than 50 percent -- in hip replacement patients regarded as superobese,'
In another study, abstracted in Pubmed, an investigation into "in-hospital complications" related to knee replacements was carried out. After looking at 4718 patients who had undergone TKA [total knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement] between the years of 2007 and 2010, the investigators concluded that 'obese patients undergoing primary TKA are at increased risk for all-cause in-hospital complications ...'
Obesity is associated with many diseases. And obesity compromises a person's joints, causing an increase in knee and hip replacements. Additionally, obesity causes an increase in complications after hip and knee transplants. Weight loss providers should work with orthopedic surgeons and other health care providers to minimize the effects of obesity and overweight before and after a joint replacement.
Of course extra body weight is going to negatively affect a person's joints by putting extra pressure on body parts. Therefore, it should be expected that obesity would be associated with increased joint replacements. Indeed, "The number of total knee replacement surgeries more than tripled between 1993 and 2009, and experts say that this is linked to the increasing rate of obesity in the United States."
Moreover, studies have shown that obesity increases the risk of complications post joint replacement. A study done at The Mayo Clinic concluded that obesity adds to the complications after hip replacements. According to the researchers, 'there is a much higher complication rate -- more than 50 percent -- in hip replacement patients regarded as superobese,'
In another study, abstracted in Pubmed, an investigation into "in-hospital complications" related to knee replacements was carried out. After looking at 4718 patients who had undergone TKA [total knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement] between the years of 2007 and 2010, the investigators concluded that 'obese patients undergoing primary TKA are at increased risk for all-cause in-hospital complications ...'
Obesity is associated with many diseases. And obesity compromises a person's joints, causing an increase in knee and hip replacements. Additionally, obesity causes an increase in complications after hip and knee transplants. Weight loss providers should work with orthopedic surgeons and other health care providers to minimize the effects of obesity and overweight before and after a joint replacement.
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