Is obesity a contraindication for simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty? A prospective case-control study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common procedure for knee arthritis.
• Limited data exists comparing outcomes of simultaneous bilateral TKA in obese versus non-obese Indian populations.
• Obesity is a growing concern impacting surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare functional outcomes and complication rates of simultaneous bilateral TKA in obese versus non-obese Indian patients.
• To assess the impact of obesity on recovery and mid-term results after bilateral knee replacement.

Main Methods:

• Patients were stratified into obese (BMI > 30) and non-obese (BMI < 30) groups.
• All patients underwent simultaneous bilateral TKA using identical implants and surgical techniques.
• Functional outcomes (Oxford knee score) and complications were assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year post-surgery.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in post-operative hemoglobin drop, ICU stays, hospital length of stay, walking time, or stair climbing time between groups.
• While non-obese patients had better scores at 6 weeks, Oxford knee scores were similar at 3 months, 1 year, and last follow-up for both groups.
• Complication rates, implant loosening, and radiolucency were comparable, with no statistically significant differences.

Conclusions:

• Simultaneous bilateral TKA yields comparable mid-term functional results in obese Indian patients compared to their non-obese counterparts.
• Obesity does not appear to significantly compromise the outcomes of simultaneous bilateral TKA in the mid-term follow-up period.