Defining the relationship between obesity and total joint arthroplasty.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between obesity and patient-administered outcome measures after total joint arthroplasty.


METHODS
A voluntary questionnaire-based registry contained 592 primary total hip arthroplasty patients and 1011 primary total knee arthroplasty patients with preoperative and 1-year data. Using logistic regression, the relationships between body mass index and the several outcome measures, including Short Form-36 and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, were examined.


RESULTS
There was no difference between obese and non-obese patients regarding satisfaction, decision to repeat surgery, and Delta physical component summary, Delta mental component summary, and Delta Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores (p > 0.05 for all). Body mass index was associated with an increased risk of having difficulty descending or ascending stairs at 1 year (odds ratio, 1.2 to 1.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Obese patients enjoy as much improvement and satisfaction as other patients from total joint arthroplasty.
Stickles
B
B
Department of Orthopedics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA. beverly_stickles@hotmail.com
Phillips
L
L
Brox
W T
WT
Owens
B
B
Lanzer
W L
WL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome