The Influence of Obesity on Clinical Outcomes after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Five-year Minimum Follow-up

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of obesity on clinical outcomes following total knee arthroplasty in osteoarthritis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1999 and February 2002, 239 osteoarthritis patients underwent total knee arthroplasty, and 118 knees of 94 patients treated during this period were followed for a minimum of 5 years. Seventy knees belonged to 56 obese patients (body mass index, BMI>25 kg/m2), while 48 knees belonged to 38 non-obese patients (BMI80 points at final follow-up) (p>0.05). With regard to revision, 4 liner exchanges took place in the obese group due to liner dislodgement, and no liner exchanges took place in the non-obese group. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of liner exchange between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Obesity (BMI>25 kg/m2) has no effect on total knee arthroplasty outcomes in osteoarthritis patients at 5 years follow-up.