Functional Gain and Pain Relief After Total Joint Replacement According to Obesity Status

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Obesity Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Obesity is linked to poorer outcomes and increased pain following total hip (THR) and knee replacement (TKR).
• Understanding the impact of obesity on functional and pain changes after joint replacement is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between obesity status and changes in function and pain after THR and TKR.
• To analyze preoperative and 6-month postoperative outcomes across different body mass index (BMI) categories.

Main Methods:

• A national cohort of 2,040 THR and 2,964 TKR patients (May 2011-March 2013) was analyzed.
• Data included Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores, joint pain scores, and BMI.
• Outcomes were compared across BMI categories: normal weight, overweight, obese, severely obese, and morbidly obese.

Main Results:

• Higher obesity levels correlated with lower baseline and 6-month PCS scores in both THR and TKR patients.
• Severely and morbidly obese THR patients showed less functional gain.
• While obesity was linked to more baseline pain, postoperative pain relief was substantial across all BMI groups, resulting in similar 6-month pain scores.

Conclusions:

• Six months post-TJR, severely/morbidly obese patients achieve excellent pain relief and functional gains comparable to other BMI groups.
• Obesity, despite risks of early complications, should not prevent patients from considering TJR for symptom management.