It is increasingly apparent that the effect of obesity in arthroplasty is joint-specific. This study evaluates the effects of morbid obesity on primary total knee arthroplasty by comparing short-term outcomes between a morbidly obese (body mass index ≥40 kg/m2) and a normal weight (body mass index 18.5-<25 kg/m2) cohort at our institution between January 2003 and December 2010.
One hundred seventeen morbidly obese patients were compared with 94 normal weight patients. Operative time, length of stay, complications, 30-day readmission, and readmission length were compared.
Morbid obesity conveyed no significant increase in 30-day readmission. Operative time was increased at 100 minutes in the morbidly obese group, compared with 90.5 minutes (P = .026).
Morbid obesity conveyed no increased risk of length of stay or readmission in this cohort.