Comorbidities in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients: When Is It Okay to Say No?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2025

Publication Title

The Orthopedic clinics of North America

Abstract

Preoperative optimization of modifiable risk factors for total hip and knee arthroplasty remains a foundational cornerstone in reducing postoperative complications and enhancing patient outcomes. With an increasing prevalence of high-risk comorbidities among total joint arthroplasty patients with morbid obesity (body mass index ≥40 kg/m2), uncontrolled diabetes (hemoglobin A1c ≥ 7.5%), and active smoking and tobacco use, many joint arthroplasty surgeons face complex ethical decisions when surgical intervention poses a higher risk for potential harm. Creating definitive numerical cutoffs may lead to access-to-care issues with a difficult balance between helping and harming patients.

Volume

56

Issue

1

First Page

1

Last Page

12

DOI

10.1016/j.ocl.2024.01.003

ISSN

1558-1373

PubMed ID

39581640

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS