The Effect of Obesity on Hemiarthroplasty and Total Hip Arthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures

Abstract

Obesity is a well-recognized global epidemic that can lead to longer operative times as well as a greater technical demand. Despite this, the available literature evaluating the impact of obesity on hip hemiarthroplasty (HA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) when treating fractures about the femoral neck is scarce. Between 2015 and 2018, we retrospectively reviewed all patients that had a HA or THA performed as treatment for an isolated fracture of the femoral neck. Patients were classified as obese and nonobese depending on current body mass index (BMI) when the index procedure was performed. Preoperative and postoperative variable were obtained from the electronic medical record. A total of 157 patients underwent hip HA or THA for an isolated fracture of the femoral neck. In those patients undergoing HA, obesity was associated with an increase in operative times (<i>P</i> &#61; 0.021) and was associated with a nonsignificant increase in total operating room time (<i>P</i> &#61; 0.088) and duration of anesthesia (<i>P</i> &#61; 0.14). In those patients undergoing THA, obesity was associated with longer operative times (<i>P</i> &#61; 0.043), total operating room time (<i>P</i> &#61; 0.032), and duration of anesthesia (<i>P</i> &#61; 0.045). There were no significant differences in complication rates postoperatively between obese and non-obese patients undergoing either procedure. The treatment of isolated fractures of the femoral neck with HA or THA leads to an increase in operative time without an increase in postoperative complications in obese patients.