Postoperative complications in underweight patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty: A comparative analysis to normal weight patients

Mikhail Zusmanovich; Benjamin Kester; James Feng; Ran Schwarzkopf

doi:10.1016/j.jor.2018.02.016

Postoperative complications in underweight patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty: A comparative analysis to normal weight patients

J Orthop. 2018 Feb 21;15(2):345-348. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2018.02.016. eCollection 2018 Jun.

Authors

Mikhail Zusmanovich¹, Benjamin Kester¹, James Feng¹, Ran Schwarzkopf¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Adult Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Langone Medical Center, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, 10003, United States.

Abstract

Background: Underweight patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty have been largely overlooked. The purpose of this study was to evaluate their complications profiles compared to normal weight individuals.

Methods: Patients were selected from the NSQIP database, matched, and arranged into 2 groups based on BMI. Complications were recorded and analyzed to determine differences in outcomes.

Results: Multivariate analysis demonstrated increased length of hospital stay (LOS) (p = 0.006) for underweight patients but failed to demonstrate higher rates of medical or surgical complications.

Conclusion: There are no increased rates of infectious or medical complications in underweight patients undergoing THA. However, increased LOS was demonstrated.

Keywords: BMI; Complications; Malnutrition; Total hip arthroplasty; Underweight.