Orthopaedic resident Megan Lameka, M.D., recently published, “Systemic Complications of Obesity in Operative Acetabular Fractures” in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.
Other study authors include:
Ultimately, the team aimed to determine the effect of obesity on rates of systemic complication in operatively treated acetabular fractures, which is a break in the socket portion of the "ball-and-socket" hip joint.
Systemic complications the team screened for included mortality, sepsis, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or venous thrombotic event.
Researchers conclude that contrary to prevailing assumptions, there was no association with increasing BMI and these inpatient systemic complications after operative management of acetabular fractures–although there are well-documented surgical risks and fracture reduction challenges for the obese population.
In the end, authors note the fear of postoperative systemic complications should not deter surgeons from undertaking operative management of acetabular fractures in the obese population amd perhaps BMI is not the best adioposity index to assess peri operative risks.
To read the entire study and its methods, click here.