title: Effect of Obesity on Total Ankle Arthroplasty Outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of obesity on intermediate- to long-term implant failure rates and survivorship after total ankle arthroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chart review was performed for all patients who underwent primary total ankle arthroplasty between 2004 and 2009 with a minimum 5-year follow-up. Patients were separated into a reference group with a body mass index less than 30 kg/m2 and an obese group with an index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. Minimum 5-year follow-up outcomes were available for 49 patients in the obese group and 48 patients in the nonobese group. Mean follow-up was 8.2 ± 2.0 years (range, 5.1-11.5 years) in the reference group and 7.7 ± 2.0 years (range, 5.0-11.9 years) in the obese group (P = .26).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on multivariable logistic regression, obese patients had a significantly greater probability of implant failure by final follow-up (adjusted odds ratio, 2.8 [95% CI, 1.04-7.53]; P = .04). Cox regression analysis of 5-year implant survivorship showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.89 [95% CI, 0.77-4.65]; P = .17). When compared with obese patients with inflammatory or posttraumatic arthritis, obese patients with osteoarthritis demonstrated a significantly decreased 5-year survivorship (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.73 [95% CI, 1.05-10.43]; P = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated an increased long-term risk of implant failure among obese patients that was not seen in the intermediate term. Furthermore, obese patients with primary osteoarthritis were found to have a significantly decreased 5-year implant survivorship after ankle arthroplasty as compared with obese patients with inflammatory or posttraumatic arthritis and therefore should be counseled appropriately when deciding between arthroplasty and arthrodesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III, retrospective comparative series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA o.schipper@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Oliver N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Sahitya K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Denduluri
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Research Informatics, NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute, Evanston, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, LLC, Glenview, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Haddad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058737:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Ankle; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: ankle arthritis; ankle arthroplasty; obesity