New research published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery examined how obesity levels impact pain relief and functional gain before and after total joint replacement procedures.
Wenjun Li, PhD, of Worcester-based University of Massachusetts Medical School, and colleagues documented preoperative and postoperative function and pain in 2,040 patients who underwent total hip replacement and 2,964 patients who underwent total knee replacement between May 2011 and May 2013.
The average age of the total hip replacement cohort was 65 -years -old. Around 60 percent of the patients were women, 94 percent were white and 14 percent were severely or morbidly obese. While, the average age of the total knee replacement cohort was 69 -years-old. Around 61 percent of the patients were women, 93 percent were white and 25 percent were severely or morbidly obese.
Here's what researchers found in total hip replacement patients:
1. Patients with higher obesity levels had worse physical component summary scores at baseline and six months postoperatively. Obese patients had less postoperative functional gain than other body mass index groups.
2. Obese patients had more pain at baseline testing but greater postoperative pain relief. The average postoperative pain score did not vary according to BMI status.
Here's what researchers found in total knee replacement patients:
1. Patients with higher obesity levels had lower PCS scores at baseline and at six months after surgery.
2. Postoperative gains did not differ by BMI status. Pain relief was similar to THR patients.
Researchers concluded, "Six months after total joint replacement, severely or morbidly obese patients reported excellent pain relief and substantial functional gain that was similar to the findings in other patients. While obesity is associated with a greater risk of early complications, obesity in itself should not be a deterrent to undergoing TJR to relieve symptoms."
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