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Study finds obese patients at higher risk of complications after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty
Obese patients who have reverse total shoulder arthroplasty receive a significant benefit from the procedure, but have a significantly higher risk of complications compared to patients who are normal weight or overweight, according to this study.
“Our results show that obese patients have significant improvement in motion after [reverse total shoulder arthroplasty] RTSA but are at an increased risk for complication,” John D. Beck, MD, and colleagues wrote in the study abstract. “Obesity is not a contraindication to RTSA, but obese patients need to understand fully the increased risk of complication with RTSA.”
Beck and colleagues performed RTSA in 76 patients between 2005 and 2011. Of these patients, 17 patients were obese, 36 patients were overweight and 23 patients had a normal body weight. After surgery, the complication rate for obese patients was 35% compared to 4% in patients with a normal weight.
The researchers found no significant difference between postoperative abduction, forward flexion, internal/external rotation, humeral component loosening or instability, according to the abstract. Additionally, there were no significant differences between hospital stay, scapular notching or surgical time between the two groups.
Disclosure: One of the authors (Harter) is a consultant for DJO, which makes one of the implants used in the study.