The influence of obesity on perioperative morbidity and mortality in revision total hip arthroplasty

The significance of obesity as a risk factor for postoperative complication s was determined in a consecutive series of 229 cases of revision total hip replacement. The body mass index (BMI) was used as an objective measure to classify the patients. The group-wise analysis of data included all medica l and procedure-related complications, the number of fatal cases, operative time, requirement for analgesics, the number of transfusions and periopera tive haemoglobin levels. The results of our study demonstrate a clear assoc iation between obesity and operative time, whereas no statistically signifi cant relationships were observed between obesity and the other parameters. We conclude that obesity does not have any significant influence on periope rative morbidity and mortality but is clearly related to operation rime and , therefore, to higher costs per operation.