Surgery Becoming A Weighty Issue For Patients
Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics News
Article Date: 06 Jul 2006 - 0:00am (PDT)
America's ever-growing obesity problem has shifted onto the office of the orthopaedic surgeon. More obese Americans translates to more obese orthopaedic patients and, according to a review article published in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, that means orthopaedic surgeons must identify the special needs of these patients as well as encourage methods to decrease obesity.
"Orthopaedic surgeries like total knee or joint replacements can be difficult -- even for the most skilled and experienced orthopaedic surgeon," said Timothy Bhattacharyya, MD, instructor of orthopaedic surgery at Harvard University Medical School and orthopaedic surgeon with Partners Orthopaedic Trauma Service at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "Add an obese patient into the equation, and there's a higher risk of complications -- sometimes five times as high."
Obese patients use approximately 40 percent more cardiovascular energy than patients of average weight. This fact alone can contribute to, among other serious problems, congestive heart failure and death, according to the paper. As America's population continues to swell each year -- 30 percent are now considered obese -- the problem of complication-fraught surgeries is one that orthopaedic surgeons need to work around.
According to Dr. Bhattacharyya, orthopaedic surgeons need extra equipment, bigger beds and new surgical techniques in order to minimize complications for an obese patient. A tibia fracture, for example, cannot be treated with a cast for a patient who weighs more than about 200 pounds; and while a fracture might heal the same for obese and normal-weight patients, the risk of infection for an obese patient is much higher.
"Anyone can fracture a bone, no matter his or her shape and size," said Dr. Bhattacharyya. "But obese patients need special care."
A balanced diet and plenty of exercise should be an important part of anyone's daily routine. However, as obesity continues to be an issue for many people, it's vital for orthopaedic surgeons to fully be aware of their patients' special needs and encourage their patients to maintain a healthy weight, Dr. Bhattacharyya explained.
An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician with extensive training in the diagnosis and non-surgical as well as surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.
The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) is a publication of the 29,000-member American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (
http://www.aaos.org ) or (
http://www.orthoinfo.org ), the premier not-for- profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions the interests of patients and advances the highest quality musculoskeletal health. Orthopaedic surgeons and the Academy are the authoritative sources of information for patients and the general public on musculoskeletal conditions, treatments and related issues. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade (
http://www.usbjd.org ) -- the global initiative in the years 2002-2011 -- to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's quality of life.
Abstracts and full text of the monthly, peer-reviewed JAAOS are available online at
http://www.jaaos.org .
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.aaos.org Obesity Surgery 
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