The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of obesity on patients' function, pain, and complications following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with an enhanced-recovery program.
A total of 157 patients were enrolled into a prospective study and assigned into one of three groups on the basis of their body mass index (BMI): normal (BMI 18.0-24.9 kg/m
The ROM of patients in the obese group on POD 3 was higher than in the normal (104.4 ± 8.5 vs. 98.9 ± 8.9, P = .010) and overweight (104.4 ± 8.5 vs. 97.7 ± 7.8, P = .001) groups. Similarly, the VAS in the obese group at rest on POD 1 was lower than in the normal (2.0 ± 0.7 vs. 2.2 ± 0.6, P = .043) and overweight (2.0 ± 0.7 vs. 2.3 ± 0.6, P = .010) groups. In addition, the incidence of complications did not differ significantly among the three groups, but the length of hospital stay in the obese group was longer (P = .027).
Obesity may not affect patients' function and pain, and may not increase the incidence of complications following primary TKA. Obese patients may obtain satisfactory functional rehabilitation outcomes, but with a longer duration of rehabilitation.