[Osteoarthritis of the knee: lose weight first?]

Being heavy and having knee pain often co-exists. To date, the optimal treatment for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and obesity remains the subject of debate, since patients with a high BMI (> 30 kg/m2) have a higher risk of complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Kerkhoffs and colleagues suggest that these patients should first be submitted to a weight-loss programme prior to their TKA to reduce the risk of complications. This commentary addresses various questions arising from the Dutch meta-analysis by Kerkhoffs. For instance, should patients who fail to lose weight still undergo TKA or have bariatric surgery, or are there other options? Finally, suggestions are made for future research that might shed light upon this critical issue.