Comparison of weight changes after total hip or knee arthroplasty

A prospective study of the effect on weight in 192 patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA) (124 hips) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (68 knees) was performed. Patients' weights at 1 year after THA or TKA were compared with their preoperative weights. There was little or no effect on a patient's weight after TKA. Women undergoing THA gained on average 3.1 kg (6.8 lb), whereas men gained on average 2.5 kg (5.5 lb). This information may be of benefit to a surgeon whose patient needs encouragement to lose weight before undergoing a THA.