Body mass index changes after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty do not adversely influence patient outcomes

The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of patients who lost or gained weight following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), the effect of post-operative body mass index (BMI) changes on functional outcomes and quality of life (QoL), and predictive factors associated with BMI changes.

Prospectively collected data of 1043 patients who underwent UKA between 2000 and 2014 were reviewed. BMI, Knee Society Knee Score and Function Score, Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score and proportion of patients attaining OKS/SF-36 minimal clinically important differences (MCID) were recorded preoperatively and at 2 years post-operatively. The patients were stratified into three groups based on weight changes for further analysis.

Following UKA, 138 (13.3%) patients had lost weight, 695 (66.6%) maintained their weight, and 210 (20.1%) gained weight. Patients in all groups demonstrated significant improvements in functional and SF-36 PCS scores at 2 years post-operatively. There were no significant differences in functional outcomes, QoL or revision rate between the groups. Post-operative BMI changes were not correlated with any outcome scores or attainment of MCID (n.s.).

This is the first study that evaluates change in BMI following UKA. It demonstrated a higher proportion of patients who gained weight as compared to those who lost weight. Post-operative BMI changes did not appear to affect outcomes of UKA. These findings will provide important information to surgeons when counselling patients regarding BMI change and its effect on outcomes after UKA.

Level III.