The Effect of Sarcopenia on Outcomes following Orthopaedic Surgery: A Systematic Review

Description

This presentation features Filip Brzeszcynski, a junior doctor from Edinburgh, discussing the outcomes of a systematic review regarding sarcopenia's effects on postoperative functional recovery and mortality in orthopedic surgery patients. Filip explains that sarcopenia refers to the age-related loss of muscle mass and function, emphasizing its impact on surgical outcomes, especially considering that about 44% of elderly orthopedic patients may be sarcopenic.



The review highlights the necessity of standardized diagnosis of sarcopenia, based on reduced muscle strength, size, and function, although it notes that many studies assessed in the review did not adequately meet these criteria, using only one or two parameters. Filip outlines the methodology of their study, which filtered through numerous papers to ultimately include 19 relevant studies with over 3,000 participants.



He presents findings indicating a strong association between sarcopenia and negative surgical outcomes, including poor survival rates and lower postoperative functional scores. Notably, the review concludes that while the literature lacks consistency, sarcopenia generally correlates with increased postoperative mortality and suggests the potential for using muscle measurements as predictive tools before surgery. Filip invites questions and engages with the audience on practical applications of muscle function assessments in clinical settings.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221134

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