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Total Hip Arthroplasty and Lifestyle

Orthopedic Specialists Blog Total Hip Arthroplasty and Lifestyle

A research team at Maimonides Medical Center in New York examined the lifestyles of more than 13,000 patients who underwent total hip replacement for pelvis fracture between 2005 and 2015. They parsed out lifestyle factors and found a correlation between postoperative infection and health. The strongest risk factors included obesity (Body Mass Index of 40 or more), iron deficiency anemia, and pathological weight loss (unintentional loss of more than 5 percent of a person’s normal body weight over six months).

“Studies comparing patient demographics and identifying risk factors for either surgical site infections (SSIs) or periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are limited,” the study reads.

Another study, presented at the 2021 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting, found elevated blood glucose levels may indicate a higher risk for periprosthetic joint infection after total hip arthroplasty. The threshold identified 137 mg/dL, but the researchers found no direct association with blood glucose and PJI, perhaps because most diabetics are medically supervised for blood sugar control. 

While both studies show a need for further research, they serve to empower patients to make an informed decision about surgery with their orthopedic doctor.

Author
Marie Eide Marie Eide is the social media and content strategist at Orthopedic Specialists. She has been writing in the healthcare space for 15 years. All content is reviewed by our physicians.

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