Endoprosthesis and Obesity

INTRODUCTION: Obesity represents a significant risk factor in the pathophysiology of degenerative changes in coxarthrosis. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to investigate obesity as a risk factor in the examined sample comprising 136 patients who underwent hip endoprothesis implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The series comprised 136 patients with a hip endoprosthesis implanted, where the patients’ BMI, amount of blood used, duration of surgery, number of assistants, and type of anaesthesia were observed. Wounds and late post-operative complications, infections, haemorrhage, vein thrombosis, endoprosthesis dislocations, length of inpatient stay, start of physical therapy and full weight-bearing were also observed. The observation period lasted six months on average. DISCUSSION: In simple terms, the three greatest factors when implanting a hip endoprosthesis are as follows: properties of the endoprosthesis, the orthopaedic surgeon’s skill and experience, and individual characteristics of the patient, i.e. age, sex, health condition, body weight, BMI, adequate physical therapy. CONCLUSION: We believe that the implantation of a hip endoprosthesis should be postponed for patients with a BMI exceeding 29.99. Such patients should receive endocrine treatment, they should undergo a weight loss programme in order to reduce their body weight and in order to reduce their BMI to under 29.99.