Research examines impact of elevated BMI on shoulder stabilization surgery and recurrence rates

Body mass index (BMI) is a critical, yet unexplored determinant of the result and success of surgery completed on the shoulder. Elevated BMI is associated with altered joint biomechanics, increased periarticular stress and systemic inflammation, all of which may adversely impact surgical stabilization outcomes, patient recovery and patient reoperation rates. 

In the study “Impact of Elevated BMI on Shoulder Stabilization Outcomes and Recurrence Rates,” Brent Henderson, a third-year medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, examined how shoulder stabilization surgery is found to be an effective intervention across all BMI cohorts, even though BMI influenced some range of motion measurements that were deemed to not be clinically significant. The findings show that: 

• The retrospective review was of patient medical records of people who underwent operations between 2009 and 2023 at a single institution with a standardized postoperative rehabilitation program. 
• There is an absence of significant differences in recurrence rates among BMI groups, suggesting that modern shoulder surgery stabilization techniques can effectively address biomechanical challenges associated with obesity, regardless of BMI. 
• Some patients may choose mobility for stability through surgical intervention; achieving optimal joint stability within this cohort may involve a reduction in range of motion to restore proper biomechanics. 
• BMI didn’t correlate significantly with recurrence rates or postoperative range of motion improvements following surgery.