Use of all-polyethylene tibial component improves outcomes in obese patients undergoing TKA

Obesity incidence is continuously increasing and is a major health concern. Several studies have reported negative results after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in obese patients. Fernando Diaz Dilernia et al conducted a study to analyze the minimum 2-year outcomes in patients who have a body mass index (BMI) > 35 undergoing cemented TKA using an all-polyethylene tibial component (APTC) at a minimum of 2 years of follow-up.

The study was conducted at Division of Orthopedic Surgery, London Health Sciences Centre, Western University, University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada. It has been published in “The Journal of Arthroplasty.”

The authors retrospectively studied 163 obese patients (192 TKAs) who underwent a primary cemented TKA using an APTC comparing the outcomes of 96 TKA patients who had a BMI > 35 to 39.9 (group A) with 96 patients who a TKA and a BMI >= 40 (group B). Median follow-up of groups A and B were 3.8 years and 3.5 years respectively (P = .02). Multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate independent risk factors associated with complications. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were estimated, defining failure as the need for any further femoral or tibial revision surgery with implant removal, irrespective of the reason.