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Obese patients had significantly increased complication rates after elbow arthroscopy
Following elbow arthroscopy, Medicare patients who were obese experienced a significantly increased rate of all assessed complications in this study, including infection, nerve injury, stiffness and medical complications.
Using the PearlDiver database, researchers identified Medicare 2,785 patients who underwent elbow arthroscopy from 2005 to 2012. Of these patients, 628 were obese or morbidly obese and were matched with 628 non-obese patients based on age, sex, tobacco use, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
Nicole D. Deal
Results showed a greater rate of all assessed complications among patients who were obese vs. non-obese patients. Researchers found patients who were obese experienced a substantially greater rate of infection within 90 days postoperatively, as well as a significantly greater rate of nerve injury compared with non-obese patients. Patients who were obese also experienced a significantly greater rate of postoperative stiffness within 6 months postoperatively, according to results. Researchers noted substantially greater medical complications within 90 days postoperatively among patients who were obese. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Werner reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.