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.
To provide an overview of the impact of obesity on the outcome of primary THA.
Literature review and discussion of own epidemiological data.
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.
The knowledge of obesity-associated risks is the prerequiste for successful THA in obese patients.