No clinically meaningful weight changes in a young cohort following total joint arthroplasty at 3-year follow-up

BackgroundTotal joint arthroplasty (TJA) is one of the most successful operations. There is little in the literature regarding weight change following TJA, particularly in a young cohort. MethodsRetrospective analysis of 181 primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 185 primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients was conducted. We reviewed preoperative and post-operative weights and post-operative body mass index at 3 and 6months, 1year, 2 and 3years. We evaluated expected versus actual weight gain, and performed subgroup analyses of obese versus non-obese patients and active duty versus civilian patients. We used a minimal clinically meaningful weight change from baseline of 5%. ResultsOne hundred and fifty-one (41.3%) patients were active duty military service members with the mean age of 5311.1years. In TKA patients, statistically significant differences were found in mean weights at 3months (-1.8%, P0.0001) and 2years (+1.9%, P=0.0006). In THA patients, statistically significant weight gains were found at 6months (+1.1%, P=0.006). For obese TKA patients, significant weight changes were observed at 3 months (-2.5%, P0.0001), and none in the obese THA group. There were no statistical or clinically meaningful weight changes in the non-obese TKA or THA groups. There was a clinically meaningful weight gain in active duty TKA patients at 3years (5.18%, P=0.17). Conclusion Despite a theoretical ability to lose weight following TJA, patients maintain their preoperative weight following TJA. We found a clinically meaningful weight gain at 3years post-operatively only in active duty TKA patients. Overall, however, we found no clinically significant weight changes following TJA at 3-year follow-up.