Early Complications of Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty in Morbidly Obese Patients

Carter J, Springer B and Curtin B

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee Center, USA

^*Correspondance to: Bryan Springer 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.1056

Abstract

Morbid obesity is a known risk factor for complications and failure following primary total knee arthroplasty. Complications following revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA), however, in the morbidly obese (BMI > 40) have not been well described. A retrospective cohort study was designed to investigate the early complications of rTKA procedures performed between January 2009 and December 2012. Comparisons were made between patients with a normal BMI (18.5-25) and patients with morbid obesity (BMI > 40). We found that 33 of 141 morbidly obese patients (23.4%) had a complication compared to 10 of 96 patients with a BMI 18.5-25 (10.4%) (p=0.011). Morbidly obese patients were younger (69.3 years versus 61.4 years, p<.0001) and their most frequent complication in comparison to patients with normal BMI was wound healing problems (p=0.01). Morbidly obese patients are at a significantly increased rate of early complications following rTKA compared to a normal weight cohort, especially with regards to wound complications. The morbidly obese group was significantly younger at the time of rTKA. Early intervention to help with weight management prior to TKA is needed. In addition, this study highlights the importance of risk stratification for morbidly obese patients undergoing rTKA.

Keywords

Revision total knee arthroplasty; Morbid obesity; Complications

Cite the article

Carter J, Springer B, Curtin B. Early Complications of Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty in Morbidly Obese Patients. Clin Surg. 2016; 1: 1056.