Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2: BMI Evolution, Planning Accuracy, Restoration of Anthropometric Parameters and Clinical Outcomes
Background: Obesity is increasingly prevalent among patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). While outcomes are well reported, fewer studies assess postoperative BMI trends, digital templating accuracy, and biomechanical restoration. Purpose: To evaluate BMI evolution, templating accuracy, restoration of limb length and femoral offset, and clinical outcomes after primary THA in obese patients, compared with normal-weight controls. Methods: Retrospective comparative cohort including 75 obese patients (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) undergoing primary THA between July 2021 and December 2024. BMI was recorded preoperatively and at last follow-up. OrthoView™ 7.1 digital templating guided preoperative planning; accuracy was defined as implanted versus planned component sizes. Radiographic assessment of limb length and femoral offset was performed in 60 obese patients and 60 normal-weight controls. Clinical outcomes included Harris Hip Score (HHS), Oxford Hip Score (OHS), and EQ-5D-5L. Postoperative complications were recorded in the obese cohort. Results: BMI remained stable postoperatively (33.68 ± 2.57 vs. 34.06 ± 2.78 kg/m2; p = 0.138). Templating accuracy within ±1 size was high (femoral stem 80.2%; acetabular cup 94.7%). Limb-length discrepancy was low and comparable between obese and normal-weight patients (3.55 vs. 3.78 mm; p = 0.687). Femoral offset restoration was similarly comparable. Patient-reported outcomes improved significantly in both groups, with no significant differences in postoperative scores. Conclusions: In obese patients, THA provides reliable digital planning accuracy, satisfactory biomechanical reconstruction, and substantial functional improvement comparable to normal-weight patients. BMI remains essentially unchanged after surgery, indicating THA does not substantially influence postoperative weight trajectory in this population.
Authors
- Federico Alberto Grassi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0912-5726)
- Matteo Massa
- Gianluigi Pasta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1919-5130)
- Eugenio Jannelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4447-1480)
- Alessandra Monzio Compagnoni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7983-9970)
- Michela Saracco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2190-9574)
- Costanza Martorelli
Institutions
- University of Pavia (IT)
- Federico II University Hospital (IT)
- Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione (IT)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
- University of Naples Federico II (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Personalized Medicine
- Published
- 2026-07-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16080395
- Primary Topic
- Orthopaedic implants and arthroplasty
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00