Morbid Obesity in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Joint-Specific Variance in Outcomes for Operative Time, Length of Stay, and Readmission

Background: 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 shortterm outcomes between a morbidly obese (body mass index >= 40 kg/m(2)) and a normal weight (body mass index 18.5-< 25 kg/m(2)) cohort at our institution between January 2003 and December 2010. Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusion: Morbid obesity conveyed no increased risk of length of stay or readmission in this cohort. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.