Are morbidly obese patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty at an increased risk for component malpositioning?

Acetabular cup positioning is a critical factor in determining adverse clinical outcomes in THA. This evaluation was performed to determine if morbid obesity (BMI ≥35kg/m(2)) is a contributing risk factor to cup malpositioning. Two groups of patients were obtained from a local arthroplasty registry and match-controlled for gender, age, and diagnosis (n=211 morbidly obese; n=211 normal). Intraoperative data and postoperative AP pelvis and cross-table lateral radiographs were obtained for each patient. The Martell Hip Analysis Suite was used to calculate cup positioning (successful positioning defined as 30°-45° of abduction, and 5°-25° of anteversion), as well as varus-valgus alignment of the femoral stem. There was a significant correlation between morbid obesity with respect to underanteversion; using multivariate analysis, there was a trend toward a combined underanteversion/overabduction of the acetabular cup. Of all variables considered, high BMI was the most significant risk factor leading to malpositioning.