A review of obesity and orthopaedic surgery: The critical issues

Obesity is a growing concern in the health community because of the morbidities associated with it. There is a higher occurrence of many orthopaedic conditions among obese individuals than their non-obese counter parts. Obesity also worsens the progression of many of these orthopaedic conditions. Studies have shown that obesity may have negative impact on bone metabolism and may be implicated in the pathophysiology of some orthopaedic conditions like osteoporosis, fractures, osteoarthritis and many soft tissue ailments by both reduction in bone mass and elaboration of proinflammatory cytokines. These contribute to preponderance of musculoskeletal co-morbidities among obese patients. Critical peri-operative issues which include increased cardiopulmonary risks, issues of special equipment, instrumentation, surgical approach, patients' positioning and adjustments in medication should be acknowledged and meticulously addressed in operative management of orthopaedic conditions in obese patients. Surgeries in obese patients are fraught with operative challenges and post-operative complications than in the non-obese and a good knowledge of the critical issues in surgical management of obese patients is necessary to facilitate decision making as well as rendering of effective and efficient orthopaedic care.