title: Knee joint arthroscopy in the morbidly obese.
abstract: Ten morbidly obese individuals were retrospectively reviewed to determine the technical problems and incidence of surgical complications associated with knee joint arthroscopy in this subpopulation of patients. In comparison to a cohort of patients of normal weight that were matched for age, sex, and surgical procedure, the morbidly obese patients had longer operative times (P < .02) and time to work resumption despite having less physically demanding jobs. Those with morbid obesity required a greater number of arthroscopy portals to effect a thorough arthroscopic examination (P < .02). Many technical problems involved the fact that these patients' size could not be accommodated by standard equipment. There were no wound or neurovascular complications and one presumed thromboembolic event.
authors.affiliation: New Hamphshire Bone & Joint Institute, Bedford 03110, USA.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies