Malnourished patients more likely than morbidly obese patients to face complications after orthopedic procedures, study finds

Following total knee or hip replacement surgeries, malnourished patients are more likely to have complications than morbidly obese patients, according to new research presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, March 24 to March 28.

Researchers examined 670 patients undergoing total knee or hip replacement. Twelve percent of the patients were malnourished, while nearly 19 percent were morbidly obese.

According to the study, of the total number of patients, 10 percent experienced a complication. When compared to patients with normal nutritional status, malnourished patients were nearly 20 percent more likely to have a postoperative complication; 13 percent more likely to be readmitted within 90 days of discharge; 12 percent more likely to have an ICU admission following surgery; and 5 percent more likely to require a return to the operating room.

On the other hand, morbidly obese patients had no statistically significant difference in complication rates when compared to non-morbidly-obese patients.

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