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Obesity a factor in elbow performance after primary total elbow arthroplasty
Elbow performance after primary total elbow arthroplasty was adversely influenced among patients who were obese, according to study results.
During a 19-year period, 654 patients underwent 723 primary semiconstrained, linked total elbow arthroplasties to treat inflammatory conditions and acute traumatic or posttraumatic conditions. Average patient age was 62.3 years.
Patients were classified as non-obese in 564 cases and obese in 159 cases.
The researchers estimated survivorship of total elbow arthroplasty, as well as the effect of obesity on risk of total elbow arthroplasty revision.
Overall, the researchers performed 118 revisions. In non-obese patients, the 10-year survival rate for total elbow arthroplasty revision for any reason was 86% vs. 70% in obese patients, whereas 10-year survival rate for total elbow arthroplasty revision for mechanical failures was 88% in non-obese patients and 72% in obese patients.
Compared with non-obese patients, the researchers found severely obese patients had a significantly higher risk of total elbow arthroplasty revision for any reason (CI, 1.61-5.45; P < .05) and mechanical failure (CI, 1.47-5.89; P < .05).
Disclosure: Veillette is a consultant for the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons, received payment from Smith & Nephew and Stryker, and is the founder and developer of Orthogate and Orthopaedic Web Links. Morrey is employed by and has stock options in Tenex Health, received payment from Zimmer and royalties from SBI.