SHORT TERM COMPARISON OF CLINIC RADIOGRAPHIC RESULTS OF TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT WITH SHORT FEMORAL STEM IN OBESE AND...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is increasingly performed in younger, obese patients.
• Obesity poses challenges for implant selection and long-term THA outcomes.
• Short femoral stems offer bone preservation but their use in obese patients requires further study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional and radiographic outcomes of uncemented THA using short femoral stems in obese versus non-obese young patients.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of short femoral stems in a matched cohort of obese and non-obese individuals undergoing THA.

Main Methods:

• A single-center case-control study matched 60 obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) and 60 non-obese patients 1:1.
• Primary uncemented THA with short femoral stems was performed.
• Outcomes included surgical parameters, Harris Hip Score (HHS), satisfaction scores, and radiographic evaluations at a minimum two-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• Obese patients had slightly longer operative times and incision lengths (p<0.05).
• Both groups showed significant improvement in mean HHS (91±3.7 obese, 93±2.5 nonobese).
• Excellent implant positioning was noted, with low, clinically insignificant rates of minor radiolucencies and subsidence in obese patients. Complication rates were comparable.

Conclusions:

• Uncemented THA with short femoral stems is safe and effective in obese patients, yielding outcomes similar to non-obese patients.
• Short stems offer bone preservation benefits, crucial for younger obese populations potentially needing revision surgery.
• Larger studies with longer follow-up are recommended to confirm long-term implant survival.