Does obesity influence the clinical outcome at five years following total knee replacement for osteoarthritis?

A total of 370 consecutive primary total knee replacements performed for osteoarthritis were followed up prospectively at 6,18, 36 and 60 months. The Knee Society score and complications (peri-operative mortality, superficial and deep wound infection, deep-vein thrombosis and revision rate) were recorded. By dividing the study sample into subgroups based on the body mass index overall, the body mass index in female patients and the absolute body-weight. The outcome in obese and non-obese patients was compared. A repeated measures analysis of variance showed no difference in the Knee Society score between the subgroups. There was no statistically-significant difference in the complication rates for the subgroups studied. Obesity did not influence the clinical outcome five years after total knee replacement.