Does preoperative body weight affect early postoperative functional activities in patients with total hip arthroplasty?

Objectives: This study aims to compare early postoperative functional activities of obese or non-obese patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients and methods: The study included 45 patients (17 males, 28 females; mean age 64.6 +/- 8.6 years; range 45 to 78 years) who were operated due to coxarthrosis. Patients were assigned to two groups as obese (body mass index [BMI] > 30 kg/m(2), n=21) and non-obese (BMI <30 kg/m(2), n=24) based on their preoperative BMI. Obese and non-obese patients' functional movements (lie-to-sit, sit-to-stand, ambulation, stair climbing) were assessed with Iowa Level of Assistance Scale while ambulation velocity was assessed with Iowa Ambulation Velocity Scale preoperatively, on postoperative second and sixth days and at discharge. Results: While there was significant difference between non-obese patients' intragroup functional movement levels preoperatively and at discharge (p<0.05), there were no difference in the same intragroup values of obese patients (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between obese and non-obese patients in terms of functional movements and ambulation velocities on postoperative second and sixth days and at discharge (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to our study findings, obesity has no effect in early postoperative period on functional activities in patients who underwent THA.