Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and complications following bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty in high body mass index (BMI) patients(>30kg/m2) to those of patients with a BMI<30 kg/m2.
Materials and Methods
Using data from an academic arthroplasty database and review of clinic charts we obtained health related quality of life (SF-12), and disease specific functional outcome scores (WOMAC or Oxford Knee Score). We also assessed length of hospital stay, ASA grade and transfusion requirements. Sixty six patients had a BMI<30 and 151 patients had a BMI>30.
Results
Most cases were performed under combined spinal/epidural anaesthesia. We could find no appreciable difference in length of hospital stay, ASA grade or transfusion requirements between the two subgroups. Furthermore, were unable to detect any significant differences in post operative SF-12, WOMAC or Oxford Knee scores.
There appeared to be no significant increase in the rate of medical complications between the two subgroups, and while there may have been a slight trend towards higher procedure related complications in the high BMI group, this did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusions
In our study increased BMI appears to have no negative effects as regards functional outcomes, hospital stay or transfusion requirements for bilateral sequential knee arthroplasty. However there may be an increase in procedural/device related complications which could result in increased revision rates in these patients.
