A Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery study found arthroscopic surgery might not be the best option for patients suffering from arthritis.
William Schairer, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and lead study author, and colleagues identified 7,351 patients in the California and Florida databases who had arthroscopic hip surgery with a two-year follow-up from 2005 to 2012. Patients were divided into groups based on their age and the researchers determined which patients had received a hip arthritis diagnosis before arthroscopic surgery, as well as identifying those who were obese.
Here are three points:
1. Only 3 percent of patients younger than 40 went on to have a hip replacement.
2. Comparatively, 35 percent of patients in the 60 to 69 age group went on to have a hip replacement.
3. Researchers found obesity was a major risk factor for needing a hip replacement within two years.