Obesity Surgery Increases Fracture Risk in Patients
June 15, 2009 by admin
Boston (HealthKnowItAll) - Results of a new study show that bariatric surgery, used to help people lose weight can increase risk of fractures.
Obese people are already at risk of various diseases such as diabetes and cancer, and now according to US researchers, fractures also when they try to lose weight.
For their study the researchers, from the Mayo Clinic in the US looked at more than 100 cases in which an obese person underwent some form of obesity reduction surgery.
They noted that 1 5th of patients who took part in the study experienced at least one fracture either in the hands, or the feet.
Researchers also noted fractures took place in other parts of the body also, including the spine, hip and upper arm.
The researchers believe that obese people who undergo surgery are at this increased risk of fracture due to a loss of bone density following surgery.
“The results of our study show that patients who have had bariatric surgery have a two-fold risk in developing a fracture or sustaining a fracture as compared to the normal population,” said lead author of the study Lead author Dr Elizabeth Haglind.
