Elective Arthroplasty: Is It for All?

摘要

Total joint arthroplasty surgeons are fortunate to enjoy offering a truly successful surgical procedure to their patients with disabling arthritis. Although no one disputes the success of TJA, we are all aware of the complications that can happen after this procedure. It is known that some patient factors play a crucial role in increasing the risk of complications after TJA, leading some to believe that elective TJA is not for all. While efforts are underway to determine the "appropriateness criteria" for elective arthroplasty, a group of experts from the AAHKS, lead by Dr Bryan Springer, have examined the available literature to determine if obesity predisposes patients to added risk of complications after TJA, and if so is there a threshold for weight or body mass index beyond which the patient should not be subjected to elective arthroplasty.