[Complications of metal-on-metal tribological pairing]

[Total hip arthroplasty in overweight osteoarthritis patients]

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty (THA) are obese and exhibit a different risk profile from that of patients of normal weight.

OBJECTIVES

To provide an overview of the impact of obesity on the outcome of primary THA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature review and discussion of own epidemiological data.

RESULTS

Obese patients can expect as much functional improvement as non-obese patients after THA. However, peri- and postoperative complication (e.g., periprosthetic infection and dislocation) rates are reported to be increased in obese THA patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The knowledge of obesity-associated risks is the prerequiste for successful THA in obese patients.