Obesity in the Polytrauma Patient

The rates of obesity continue to rise in the US and the overall impact of obesity on healthcare spending and patient outcomes after trauma is considerable. The unique physiology of the obese places them at higher risk for complications including infection, failure of fixation, nonunion, multi-organ failure, and death. These physiologic differences and overall patient size can make orthopedic care in the obese trauma patient more difficult, but appropriate initial resuscitation, careful preoperative planning, meticulous surgical technique, diligent postoperative medical management, and specialized rehabilitation give these patients their best opportunity at a good outcome.