Naples Orthopedic Surgeon - Dr. Robert J. Zehr » obesity

Obesity a factor in failed knee replacements

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:50:16 +0000

My brother-in-law is very overweight. His knees are bad but he refuses to lose weight. He says he’ll just have them replaced when they wear out. Is it really that simple?

The rising cost of health care has taken “simple” out of almost every picture today. Obesity is linked with degenerative disease of the hips and knees. A high body weight is also linked to a poor result after the joints are replaced.

A recent study at The Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland compared total knee replacements (TKRs) in obese and nonobese adults. The patients all got the same joint implant (one that has been used successfully for many years).

Results were reviewed after five years. Being overweight had a negative impact on the success rate of TKRs. More implants failed in the obese group than in the nonobese group. Obese patients with failed implants had lower satisfaction rates.

There are improved medical treatments for obesity today. Encourage your brother-in-law to see his doctor and find out what are his options. He may be able to at least improve his health before his knees wear out and he faces the risks of surgery.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

Obesity a factor in total hip replacement surgery

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:27:47 +0000

I have been overweight all my life and now my hips are so bad with arthritis I need replacements. The doctor has told me to lose weight, but how much is enough?

A recent report on 851 cases of total hip replacement included information on patient demographics. This refers to data about the patients’ ages, gender, diagnosis, and body mass index (BMI).

BMI is calculated based on height and weight. It helps show how much body fat you have. Health risks from carrying too much weight include heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

A BMI in the “healthy” range does not always mean the person is fit and healthy. Poor diet and genetics can put an average person at risk for health concerns. Keep in mind the BMI does not take into account body frame. A muscular, large-framed person’s BMI could indicate obesity, but this may not be the case.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer a website with easy calculations of your BMI. You can do this by going to:

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm

Once you’ve found your BMI ask your doctor about a reasonable weight loss plan. Studies show results after a hip replacement are best in patients with a BMI of 30 or less.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

Obesity may be a factor in hip replacement surgery technique

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:54:46 +0000

I saw a videotape in my doctor’s office showing two ways to do a total hip replacement. One had a much smaller incision than the other. How do they decide which method to use?

The small incision is a fairly new method for hip joint replacement. It’s called a mini-incision. Many studies are being done to compare the mini-incision method with the standard way to replace the hip joint.

Right now doctors choose patients who aren’t overweight. Compared to the standard-incision group the mini-incision group is more likely to be male, taller, and thinner. In fact, the standard-incision group is six times more likely to be obese than the mini-incision patients. The mini-group also has fewer problems in general after surgery.

Researchers are working to find out what type of patients is best suited for each method. That information will help doctors guide their patients in choosing the right operation for each one.