Cân nặng, béo phì và sức khỏe khớp Thông tin
Định nghĩa
Cân nặng và sức khỏe khớp có mối liên hệ chặt chẽ với nhau. Thừa cân không chỉ ảnh hưởng đến đầu gối của bạn. Ngày nay, các bác sĩ mô tả béo phì là một tình trạng ảnh hưởng đến toàn bộ cơ thể, chứ không chỉ là tải trọng tăng thêm lên một khớp [1]. Béo phì gây ra tình trạng viêm có thể làm hao mòn khớp theo thời gian [1]. Đây là lý do vì sao chỉ số khối cơ thể (BMI) cao, một thước đo cân nặng so với chiều cao, làm tăng nguy cơ thoái hóa khớp ở đầu gối và bàn tay, ngay cả ở những người khỏe mạnh về mọi mặt khác [2].
Cân nặng dư thừa cũng quan trọng trong giai đoạn quanh phẫu thuật. Nếu bạn đang cân nhắc thay khớp, cân nặng là một trong nhiều yếu tố mà bác sĩ sẽ xem xét. Một số nguy cơ liên quan đến cân nặng đã giảm bớt nhờ các loại khớp nhân tạo và kỹ thuật hiện đại [3]. Trong những trường hợp khác, cân nặng rõ ràng có ảnh hưởng. Ví dụ, sau phẫu thuật nội soi khớp háng, những người thừa cân hoặc béo phì phải thay toàn bộ khớp với tỷ lệ cao hơn so với những người có cân nặng bình thường [4].
Tin tốt là cân nặng là điều bạn có thể thay đổi được [5]. Vận động cơ thể giúp ích theo hai cách. Nó bảo vệ tim của bạn, và bản thân thể lực tốt cũng làm giảm một số nguy cơ sức khỏe đi kèm với thừa cân [6]. Ngay cả một lượng nhỏ hoạt động gắng sức, khoảng 30 đến 35 phút mỗi tuần, dường như cũng bù đắp được mối liên hệ giữa béo bụng và bệnh tim [7]. Chế độ ăn uống cũng quan trọng, mặc dù vẫn còn tranh luận về việc bạn ăn gì hay việc bạn ít vận động mới là yếu tố đóng vai trò lớn hơn trong tăng cân [8].
Bác sĩ sẽ trao đổi với bạn về cân nặng trong bối cảnh sức khỏe tổng thể của bạn, chứ không coi đó là một con số duy nhất quyết định mọi thứ.
Phương pháp này có hiệu quả không?
Câu trả lời thẳng thắn là còn tùy vào “phương pháp” ở đây là gì. Đối với việc giảm cân trước khi thay khớp, có một số lựa chọn. Một loại thuốc dùng để kiểm soát cân nặng (semaglutide) đã được nghiên cứu như một lựa chọn thay thế cho phẫu thuật giảm béo trước khi thay khớp háng, và nghiên cứu cho thấy tỷ lệ khớp nhân tạo còn tồn tại và tỷ lệ biến chứng sau đó là tương đương [9]. Bản thân phẫu thuật giảm béo giúp giảm tổng cân nặng nhiều hơn so với việc thay khớp gối ngay ở những người béo phì nặng kèm thoái hóa khớp gối giai đoạn tiến triển [10].
Đối với tập thể dục, bức tranh chưa thống nhất. Một thử nghiệm ở những phụ nữ đã từng phẫu thuật giảm béo cho thấy những người tập các đợt ngắn cường độ cao, kết hợp với tập sức mạnh, giảm cân nhiều hơn so với những người tập đều đặn ở cường độ vừa phải [11]. Đối với mỡ gan, có thể cần một tổng năng lượng tiêu hao lớn khi tập luyện, hơn 10,000 kcal, để giảm mỡ trong gan ở người lớn thừa cân [12].
Giờ đến kết quả phẫu thuật. Ở đây bằng chứng phần lớn mang tính trấn an, dù chưa hoàn hảo. Đối với thay khớp gối, BMI trên 40 không liên quan đến nhiều biến chứng sớm hơn trong bối cảnh của một nghiên cứu [13]. Tình trạng cứng khớp sau thay khớp gối, một mối lo đã được biết đến, không phổ biến hơn ở những người có cân nặng cao hơn theo các nghiên cứu hiện có [14]. Đối với thay khớp háng, một thiết kế khớp nhân tạo cho thấy tỷ lệ tồn tại sau năm năm tốt ở những người béo phì nặng [15]. Đối với thay khớp vai, cân nặng không liên quan đến khả năng cao hơn phải phẫu thuật lại (phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa) [16].
Nhưng cân nặng thực sự có ảnh hưởng trong một số trường hợp. Sau phẫu thuật nội soi khớp háng, những người béo phì có nguy cơ phải thay toàn bộ khớp háng cao hơn gấp đôi so với những người có cân nặng bình thường [17]. Đối với thay khớp gối bán phần, béo phì có liên quan đến tỷ lệ phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa cao hơn theo dữ liệu sổ đăng ký của Úc [18]. Và với một kỹ thuật thay khớp gối bằng robot hiện đại, béo phì vẫn là một yếu tố nguy cơ thực sự gây hỏng khớp nhân tạo [19].
Một vài lưu ý. Phần lớn các nghiên cứu này là nghiên cứu quan sát, nghĩa là theo dõi mọi người theo thời gian thay vì trực tiếp thử nghiệm các phương pháp điều trị. Một số nghiên cứu có quy mô nhỏ. Kết quả khác nhau giữa các loại khớp và kỹ thuật. Vì vậy, tóm tắt công bằng là: cân nặng ảnh hưởng đến một số nguy cơ nhiều hơn những nguy cơ khác, và bác sĩ có thể trao đổi với bạn về những nguy cơ nào áp dụng cho bạn.
Những rủi ro là gì?
Cân nặng ảnh hưởng đến các nguy cơ khác nhau theo những cách khác nhau, và một số điều bạn có thể nghĩ tới lại không được nghiên cứu ủng hộ. Đối với thay khớp gối, BMI trên 40 không liên quan đến nhiều biến chứng sớm hơn trong bối cảnh của một nghiên cứu [13]. Tình trạng cứng khớp sau thay khớp gối không phổ biến hơn ở những người có cân nặng cao hơn, vì vậy chỉ riêng mối lo về cứng khớp không nên ngăn cản phẫu thuật khi phẫu thuật là cần thiết về mặt lâm sàng [14]. Đối với thay khớp vai, cân nặng có liên quan đến nguy cơ cục máu đông nhưng không liên quan đến nhiễm trùng [20].
Một số nguy cơ thực sự tăng theo cân nặng. Sau phẫu thuật nội soi khớp háng, những người béo phì có nguy cơ phải thay toàn bộ khớp háng cao hơn gấp đôi so với những người có cân nặng bình thường [17]. Đối với thay khớp gối bán phần, béo phì có liên quan đến tỷ lệ phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa cao hơn theo dữ liệu sổ đăng ký của Úc [18]. Với một kỹ thuật thay khớp gối bằng robot hiện đại, béo phì vẫn là một yếu tố nguy cơ thực sự gây hỏng khớp nhân tạo [19]. Sau phẫu thuật nội soi khớp gối, cả béo phì lẫn tình trạng thoái hóa khớp đã có sẵn đều làm tăng khả năng kết quả kém hơn và phải chuyển sang thay khớp [21]. Ở trẻ em bị gãy xương chân, béo phì làm cho kết quả điều trị tại bệnh viện kém hơn [22].
Một vài kết quả chưa rõ ràng. Một nghiên cứu về thay khớp gối bằng robot cho thấy xu hướng nhiều biến chứng hơn ở những người béo phì nặng, nhưng sự khác biệt này không có ý nghĩa thống kê [23]. Cùng nghiên cứu đó lại ghi nhận tình trạng cứng khớp nhiều hơn ở những người có BMI dưới 25 [23]. Đối với thay khớp gối không dùng xi măng ở những người có BMI từ 45 trở lên, số lượng bệnh nhân quá ít để đưa ra kết luận chắc chắn [24].
Bác sĩ sẽ trao đổi với bạn về những nguy cơ nào trong số này áp dụng cho bạn, dựa trên cân nặng, tình trạng khớp và loại phẫu thuật đang được cân nhắc.
Liệu phương pháp này có phù hợp với bạn không?
Thay khớp có thể mang lại hiệu quả tốt cho người thừa cân, và chỉ riêng cân nặng không nên là lý do loại bạn khỏi phẫu thuật. Nghiên cứu trên những người có BMI trên 40 không thấy mối liên hệ với biến chứng sớm khi phẫu thuật được thực hiện trong bối cảnh của một nghiên cứu [13]. Chỉ riêng mối lo về cứng khớp sau thay khớp gối không nên ngăn cản phẫu thuật khi phẫu thuật là cần thiết về mặt lâm sàng [14]. Đối với thay khớp háng, tần suất bác sĩ thực hiện ca mổ này không liên quan đến nguy cơ phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa hay nhiễm trùng ở những người có BMI từ 40 trở lên [25].
Một số trường hợp cần cân nhắc kỹ hơn. Thay khớp gối bán phần có khả năng cao hơn phải phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa ở những người béo phì [18]. Đối với thay khớp gối không dùng xi măng ở những người có BMI từ 45 trở lên, số lượng bệnh nhân quá ít để đưa ra kết luận chắc chắn [24].
Nếu bạn muốn giảm cân trước phẫu thuật, hãy hỏi bác sĩ. Rất ít người béo phì được hỗ trợ giảm cân trước khi thay khớp gối hoặc khớp háng, dù bằng thuốc, dịch vụ dinh dưỡng hay phẫu thuật giảm béo [26]. Một loại thuốc, semaglutide, đã được nghiên cứu như một lựa chọn trước khi thay khớp háng và cho thấy tỷ lệ khớp nhân tạo còn tồn tại và tỷ lệ biến chứng tương đương với phẫu thuật giảm béo [9].
Lựa chọn đúng đắn phụ thuộc vào cân nặng, tình trạng khớp và sức khỏe tổng thể của bạn. Đây nên là quyết định chung giữa bạn và bác sĩ. Phần rủi ro ở trên trình bày ý nghĩa của cân nặng đối với từng loại phẫu thuật, và bác sĩ có thể trao đổi với bạn về những điều nào áp dụng cho bạn.
Tóm lại
Thừa cân làm thay đổi một số nguy cơ nhưng không làm thay đổi những nguy cơ khác, và chỉ riêng cân nặng không nên loại bạn khỏi phẫu thuật thay khớp. Việc giảm cân trước phẫu thuật là điều đáng để hỏi, vì rất ít người được đề nghị hỗ trợ này [26], và một loại thuốc đã được nghiên cứu như một lựa chọn trước khi thay khớp háng [9]. Hãy có kỳ vọng thực tế: cân nặng quan trọng đối với một số ca phẫu thuật hơn những ca khác, và lưu ý quan trọng nhất là phần lớn các nghiên cứu này theo dõi mọi người theo thời gian thay vì trực tiếp thử nghiệm các phương pháp điều trị.
Tài liệu tham khảo
[1] Reframing Obesity in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Call for a Transdisciplinary Approach Beyond Biomechanics. Arthroscopy. 2026. DOI: 10.1002/arj.70051
[2] Does metabolically healthy obesity increase the risk of knee and hand osteoarthritis? A population-based cohort study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2026. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-026-09495-5
[3] Obesity and Total Knee Arthroplasty Revisited: Minimal Impact on Loosening and Mechanical Failure in the Modern Era. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2026.04.031
[4] The Effect of Body Mass Index on Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Matched Analysis With 10-Year Follow-up. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026. DOI: 10.1177/03635465251400355
[5] The Role of Obesity in Pediatric Orthopedics. JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews. 2019. DOI: 10.5435/jaaosglobal-d-19-00036
[6] Cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2024. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108748
[7] Joint associations of device-measured physical activity and abdominal obesity with incident cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107252
[8] It is time to bust the myth of physical inactivity and obesity: you cannot outrun a bad diet. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2015. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094911
[9] Is Semaglutide a Safer Weight-Management Option Than Bariatric Surgery for Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)?. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.08.068
[10] Impact Of Prior Bariatric Surgery Versus Immediate Total Knee Arthroplasty On Knee Function Among Patients Who Have Severe Obesity And Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis: The SWIFT Trial. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2026.05.033
[11] Impact of high-intensity interval training vs. moderate-intensity continuous training combined with strength training on physical and metabolic outcomes in post-bariatric surgery patients with sarcopenic obesity. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2026. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-026-09722-z
[12] Effect of exercise training on liver function in adults who are overweight or exhibit fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096197
[13] Body Mass Index > 40 Is Not Correlated With Early Complications in Patients Undergoing Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty at an Ambulatory Surgical Center. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.08.065
[14] Obesity Severity and Stiffness After Total Knee Arthroplasty Revisited: A Contemporary Analysis of Patients Requiring Manipulation Under Anesthesia. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2026.03.080
[15] Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Who Have Morbid Obesity: A Propensity-Weighted Analysis of Dual Mobility and Standard Fixed-Bearing Implants. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2026.03.075
[16] Revision rates between obese and nonobese total shoulder arthroplasty patients: an Australian registry data study. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2025.05.036
[17] Obese Patients Treated by Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome — 10-Year Functional Outcomes and Conversion Rates to Arthroplasty Compared With Normal-Weight Patients. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026. DOI: 10.1177/03635465251392585
[18] Obesity is Associated with Higher Rates of Revision Following Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026. DOI: 10.1177/2325967125s00336
[19] Impact of high body mass index on functionally aligned image-based robotic total knee arthroplasty: Comparable functional outcomes but higher mechanical failures. Journal of ISAKOS. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jisako.2025.100861
[20] Overweight and Premorbid Obesity Status Correlates With Thromboembolism Risk but Not Infection After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2026.05.022
[21] Editorial Commentary: Obesity and Osteoarthritis Are Risk Factors for Conversion to Arthroplasty, With or Without Previous Knee Arthroscopic Surgery. Arthroscopy. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2025.04.036
[22] Impact of pediatric obesity on surgical outcomes of lower extremity fractures: a nationwide analysis (2010–2019). BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2026. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-025-09349-6
[23] Impact of body mass index on robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty outcomes: A retrospective cohort analysis. Journal of ISAKOS. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jisako.2025.100927
[24] Body Mass Index of 45 Is a Safe Cut-Off for Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.12.038
[25] Effects of Doctor Volume on Outcomes Following Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty in the Morbidly Obese: An Analysis From the American Joint Replacement Registry. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.07.037
[26] Disparities in Preoperative Weight Loss and Obesity Treatment Before Total Joint Arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2026.06.021
Evidence & references
This is the clinical evidence summary written for health professionals. It is technical, and it lists the research this page was built from. You do not need to read it to understand your treatment or to make a decision about it.
Overview
- Obesity is a modifiable condition, and addressing it can improve the orthopaedic and overall health of children [1].
- Each 1-unit increase in BMI is associated with a 9% reduction in osteoporosis risk [2].
- Focusing on management of preoperative comorbidities and custom surgical planning can achieve outcomes comparable to those of patients who have normal BMIs at ambulatory surgical centers [3].
- There is confusion about the relation of energy intake and energy expenditure to obesity, with much more attention focused on diet and obesity than on physical inactivity and obesity [4].
- The available numbers are too small to draw conclusions in patients who have a BMI ≥ 45 undergoing cementless total knee arthroplasty [5].
- Physical activity equivalent to approximately 30–35 min of vigorous intensity per week appears to offset the association between abdominal obesity and incident cardiovascular disease [6].
- No significant differences were observed between above-average and below-average BMI groups, and BMI was not correlated with clinical improvements following arthroscopically assisted posterior latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears [7].
- Obesity is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health, extending beyond a mechanical burden on the knee [8].
- Increasing obesity severity is not associated with higher rates of postoperative stiffness or inferior outcomes following manipulation under anesthesia after total knee arthroplasty [9].
- BMI has a weak-to-moderate association with peri-incisional adiposity in primary total joint arthroplasty patients [10].
- Very few patients who have obesity received preoperative weight loss management before total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty via medications, nutrition services, or bariatric surgery regardless of sex or socioeconomic status [11].
- The WHO obesity class was not associated with risk, invasiveness, or timing of reoperations in a cohort of obese patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty [12].
- Obese and overweight patients converted to total hip arthroplasty at significantly higher rates compared with normal-weight patients following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome [13].
- Current evidence does not support the routine use of tibial stem extensions in obese total knee arthroplasty patients due to insufficient, heterogeneous, and very low certainty data [14].
- BMI was not associated with an increased risk of revision in primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty indicated for osteoarthritis, nor for primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty indicated for rotator cuff arthropathy [22].
- Patients with obesity had >2-fold odds of conversion to total hip arthroplasty compared with normal-weight patients following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome [26].
- The surgeon's obesity-specific annual primary total hip arthroplasty volume was not associated with the risk of revision or periprosthetic joint infection in patients who had a BMI ≥ 40 [27].
- The complication profile was similar across the spectrum of BMI values following aseptic revision total knee arthroplasty, aside from rising BMI increasing early complications [29].
- The ten-year functional outcomes and revision rates of total hip arthroplasty do not justify restricting access to surgery on the basis of BMI [40].
How It Works
Systemic and Metabolic Mechanisms
- Obesity is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health [8].
- High BMI elevates the risk of both knee and hand osteoarthritis irrespective of metabolic status [33].
- The increased risk of knee osteoarthritis attributed to high BMI is more evident in metabolically healthy participants [33].
- Central obesity is significantly associated with the risk of glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, especially in secondary GJO and normal BMI populations [35].
- Each 1-unit increase in BMI was associated with a 9% reduction in osteoporosis risk [2].
Biomechanical and Structural Factors
- Following medial meniscus posterior root tear repair, repairs show progression of osteoarthritis with higher rates seen with elevated BMI [31].
- Obesity is modifiable, and addressing the issue can improve the orthopaedic and overall health of children [1].
- There is enormous confusion about the relation of energy intake and energy expenditure to obesity, with much more attention focused on diet and obesity than on physical inactivity and obesity [4].
Impact on Surgical Outcomes
- Modern surgical practices and implant designs may have mitigated traditional obesity-related risks regarding loosening and mechanical failure in total knee arthroplasty [15].
- Obesity remains a critical risk factor for mechanical failures in functionally aligned image-based robotic total knee arthroplasty [18].
- In a cohort of obese patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty, the WHO obesity class was not associated with risk, invasiveness, or timing of reoperations [12].
- Increasing obesity severity is not associated with higher rates of postoperative stiffness or inferior outcomes following manipulation under anesthesia for total knee arthroplasty [9].
- Obese patients are at increased risk of a higher rate of revision following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty [21].
- Obese and overweight patients converted to total hip arthroplasty at significantly higher rates compared with normal-weight patients after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome [13].
- No significant differences were observed between above-average and below-average BMI groups, and BMI was not correlated with clinical improvements following arthroscopically assisted posterior latissimus dorsi tendon transfer [7].
- A nonsignificant trend toward a higher complication rate was observed in patients with severe obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m2) undergoing robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty [23].
- A statistically significant increase in arthrofibrosis was found in patients with BMI <25 kg/m2 undergoing robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty [23].
- Obesity had a negative influence on lower extremity long bone fracture in-hospital outcomes in pediatric patients [17].
- Type 2 diabetes is not an independent risk factor for reoperation when adjusted for BMI in obese patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty [20].
Risk Assessment and Patient Selection
- The soft tissue-to-bone ratio reflects local anatomical factors that directly influence surgical exposure and wound healing, unlike BMI [30].
- Focusing on management of preoperative comorbidities and custom surgical planning can achieve outcomes comparable to those of patients who have normal BMIs at ambulatory surgical centers for primary total joint arthroplasty [3].
- The numbers were too small to draw conclusions in patients who have a BMI ≥ 45 undergoing cementless total knee arthroplasty [5].
- Very few patients who have obesity received preoperative weight loss management before total knee or hip arthroplasty via medications, nutrition services, or bariatric surgery regardless of sex or socioeconomic status [11].
Non-Operative Management and Lifestyle
- Cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality and attenuates risks associated with overweight and obesity [34].
- An aggregate exercise programme energy expenditure (>10 000 kcal) may be required to promote reductions in intrahepatic fat [19].
- When combined with liraglutide treatment, exercise results in a more holistic state of health that may result in improved longer-term health and may enhance adherence to the treatment and promote longer-term weight-loss maintenance [16].
- Findings support a BMI-based approach to perioperative semaglutide use, particularly in patients who have a BMI >30 [32].
What the Evidence Shows
General Pathophysiology and Systemic Effects
- Obesity is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health, extending beyond mechanical burden on the knee [8].
- There is significant confusion regarding the relationship between energy intake, energy expenditure, and obesity, with greater attention historically focused on diet than on physical inactivity [4].
Bone Health and Metabolic Associations
- An aggregate exercise programme energy expenditure greater than 10,000 kcal may be required to promote reductions in intrahepatic fat in adults who are overweight or have fatty liver disease [19].
Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
- BMI > 40 is not correlated with early complications in patients undergoing primary total joint arthroplasty at an ambulatory surgical center [3].
- Focusing on management of preoperative comorbidities and custom surgical planning can achieve outcomes comparable to those of patients with normal BMIs at ambulatory surgical centers [3].
- BMI of 45 is identified as a safe cut-off for cementless total knee arthroplasty, though sample sizes were too small to draw conclusions for patients with a BMI ≥ 45 [5].
- Increasing obesity severity is not associated with higher rates of postoperative stiffness or inferior outcomes following manipulation under anesthesia [9].
- Concern for stiffness alone should not serve as a categorical barrier to TKA or manipulation under anesthesia when clinically indicated [9].
- Obesity remains a critical risk factor for mechanical failures in functionally aligned image-based robotic total knee arthroplasty, despite comparable functional outcomes [18].
- A nonsignificant trend toward a higher complication rate was observed in patients with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) undergoing robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty [23].
- A statistically significant increase in arthrofibrosis was found in patients with BMI < 25 kg/m² undergoing robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty [23].
- Total weight loss percentage was higher in bariatric surgery patients (28.7%) compared to those undergoing immediate total knee arthroplasty for severe obesity and advanced knee osteoarthritis [37].
Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
- The WHO obesity class was not associated with the risk, invasiveness, or timing of reoperations after total hip arthroplasty in a cohort of obese patients [12].
- Semaglutide appears to be a safe alternative to bariatric surgery for weight management before total hip arthroplasty, with similar implant survival and postoperative complication rates [25].
- Dual mobility implants demonstrated excellent five-year survivorship with outcomes comparable or slightly superior to fixed-bearing constructs in morbidly obese patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty [36].
Arthroscopy and Joint Preservation
- Patients with obesity had greater than 2-fold odds of conversion to total hip arthroplasty compared with normal-weight patients following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome [26].
- Obesity and preexisting osteoarthritis are known risk factors for predicting poor outcomes and conversion to arthroplasty after knee arthroscopy [24].
- Lower body mass index correlates with improved patient-reported symptoms at the time of surgery in modern hip arthroscopy patients [39].
Shoulder Arthroplasty and Rotator Cuff
- BMI was not associated with an increased risk of revision in primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty indicated for osteoarthritis or primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty indicated for rotator cuff arthropathy [22].
- Overweight and premorbid obesity status correlates with thromboembolism risk but not infection after total shoulder arthroplasty [28].
- BMI was not correlated with clinical improvements following arthroscopically assisted posterior latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears [7].
Pediatric and Trauma Outcomes
Weight Management and Exercise Interventions
- Physical activity equivalent to approximately 30–35 minutes of vigorous intensity per week appears to offset the association between abdominal obesity and incident cardiovascular disease [6].
- When combined with liraglutide treatment, exercise results in a more holistic state of health that may result in improved longer-term health and enhance adherence to treatment [16].
- Women with high-intensity interval training had significant reduction in weight and BMI compared to those who followed a moderate-intensity continuous training protocol after bariatric surgery [38].
Practical Considerations
Preoperative Management and Patient Selection
- Very few patients with obesity receive preoperative weight loss management via medications, nutrition services, or bariatric surgery before total knee or hip arthroplasty [11].
- Semaglutide is a safe alternative to bariatric surgery for weight management before total hip arthroplasty, with similar implant survival and postoperative complication rates [25].
- BMI ≥ 40 is not correlated with early complications in patients undergoing primary total joint arthroplasty at an ambulatory surgical center when preoperative comorbidities are managed and surgical planning is customized [3].
- The surgeon's obesity-specific annual primary total hip arthroplasty volume is not associated with the risk of revision or periprosthetic joint infection in patients with a BMI ≥ 40 [27].
Operative Outcomes and Complications
- Obesity class is not associated with the risk, invasiveness, or timing of reoperations after total hip arthroplasty [12].
- BMI is not associated with an increased risk of revision in primary anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty for osteoarthritis or primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for rotator cuff arthropathy [22].
- BMI does not affect clinical outcomes following arthroscopically assisted posterior latissimus dorsi tendon transfer for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears [7].
- Obese and overweight patients convert to total hip arthroplasty at significantly higher rates compared with normal-weight patients after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome [13].
- Obesity is associated with higher rates of revision following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty [21].
- Rising body mass index increases early complications but not early reoperations following aseptic revision total knee arthroplasty [29].
- The complication profile is similar across the spectrum of BMI values in aseptic revision total knee arthroplasty, excluding the specific increase in early complications noted with rising BMI [29].
- Total shoulder arthroplasty remains relatively safe in patients with elevated BMI [28].
- Specific tibial stem extension designs may benefit selected populations of obese total knee arthroplasty patients [14].
- Pediatric obesity has a negative influence on in-hospital outcomes for lower extremity long bone fractures [17].
Systemic and Metabolic Considerations
- Obesity is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health beyond mechanical burden [8].
- When combined with liraglutide treatment, exercise results in a more holistic state of health that may improve longer-term health, enhance treatment adherence, and promote longer-term weight-loss maintenance [16].
Key Evidence
- [L5] Obesity is modifiable, and addressing the issue can improve the orthopaedic and overall health of children. [1] (10.5435/jaaosglobal-d-19-00036)
- [L1] Based on our dose–response analysis of nine studies, each 1-unit increase in BMI was associated with a 9% reduction in osteoporosis risk. [2] (10.1186/s12891-026-09675-3)
- [L3] Focusing on management of preoperative comorbidities and custom surgical planning can achieve outcomes comparable to those of patients who have normal BMIs at ASCs, questioning BMI as an exclusion criterion and advocating for more inclusive, evidence-based patient selection. [3] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.08.065)
- [L5] There is enormous confusion about the relation of energy intake and energy expenditure to obesity, with much more attention focused on diet and obesity than on physical inactivity and obesity. [4] (10.1136/bjsports-2015-094911)
- [L3] However, the numbers were too small to draw conclusions in patients who have a BMI ≥ 45. [5] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.12.038)
- [L3] Physical activity equivalent to approximately 30–35 min of vigorous intensity per week appears to offset the association between abdominal obesity and incident CVD. [6] (10.1136/bjsports-2023-107252)
- [L2] No significant differences were observed between above-average and below-average BMI groups, and BMI was not correlated with clinical improvements. [7] (10.1016/j.xrrt.2025.100634)
- [L5] Obesity is more than a mechanical burden on the knee; it is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health. [8] (10.1002/arj.70051)
- [L3] These findings suggest that increasing obesity severity is not associated with higher rates of postoperative stiffness or inferior outcomes following MUA and that concern for stiffness alone should not serve as a categorical barrier to TKA or MUA when clinically indicated. [9] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.03.080)
- [L3] BMI has a weak-to-moderate association with peri-incisional adiposity in primary total joint arthroplasty patients. [10] (10.1016/j.arth.2024.08.020)
- [L3] Very few patients who have obesity received preoperative weight loss management before TKA or THA via medications, nutrition services, or bariatric surgery regardless of sex or socioeconomic status. [11] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.06.021)
- [L3] In this cohort of obese patients who underwent THA, the WHO obesity class was not associated with risk, invasiveness, or timing of reoperations. [12] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.07.026)
- [L3] Obese and overweight patients converted to THA at significantly higher rates compared with normal-weight patients. [13] (10.1177/03635465251400355)
- [L5] The authors conclude that current evidence does not support the routine use of tibial stem extensions in obese total knee arthroplasty patients due to insufficient, heterogeneous, and very low certainty data, though specific designs may benefit selected populations. [14] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.11.056)
- [L3] These findings suggest modern surgical practices and implant designs may have mitigated traditional obesity-related risks. [15] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.04.031)
- [Paper] It is clear that, when combined with liraglutide treatment, exercise results in a more holistic state of health that may result in improved longer-term health and may enhance adherence to the treatment and promote longer-term weight-loss maintenance. [16] (10.1136/bjsports-2021-104754)
- [L4] Overall, these findings suggested that obesity had a negative influence on lower extremity long bone fracture in-hospital outcomes. [17] (10.1186/s12891-025-09349-6)
- [L3] However, obesity remains a critical risk factor for mechanical failures. [18] (10.1016/j.jisako.2025.100861)
- [L1] An aggregate exercise programme energy expenditure (>10 000 kcal) may be required to promote reductions in intrahepatic fat. [19] (10.1136/bjsports-2016-096197)
- [L2] Overall, T2DM is not an independent risk factor for reoperation when adjusted for BMI. [20] (10.1186/s12891-026-09568-5)
- [L3] Based on AOANJRR data, obese patients are at increased risk of higher rate of revision following UKA. [21] (10.1177/2325967125s00336)
- [L3] BMI was not associated with an increased risk of revision in primary aTSA indicated for osteoarthritis, nor for primary rTSA indicated for rotator cuff arthropathy. [22] (10.1016/j.jse.2025.05.036)
- [L2] However, a nonsignificant trend toward a higher complication rate was observed in patients with severe obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m2), while a statistically significant increase in arthrofibrosis was found in patients with BMI <25 kg/m2. [23] (10.1016/j.jisako.2025.100927)
- [L5] Obesity and preexisting osteoarthritis are known risk factors for predicting poor outcomes and conversion to arthroplasty after knee arthroscopy, but the study lacks a control group and specific procedural details to determine if the surgery itself drives progression versus patient factors. [24] (10.1016/j.arthro.2025.04.036)
- [L3] Semaglutide appears to be a safe alternative to bariatric surgery for weight management before THA, with similar implant survival and postoperative complication rates. [25] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.08.068)
- [L3] However, patients with obesity had >2-fold odds of conversion to THA. [26] (10.1177/03635465251392585)
- [L3] However, the surgeon's obesity-specific annual primary THA volume was not associated with the risk of revision or PJI in patients who had a BMI ≥ 40. [27] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.07.037)
- [L3] These findings support individualized thromboembolic risk assessment while suggesting TSA remains relatively safe in patients with elevated BMI. [28] (10.1016/j.jse.2026.05.022)
- [L3] Otherwise, the complication profile was similar across the spectrum of BMI values. [29] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.01.024)
- [L3] Unlike BMI, the STiB ratio reflects local anatomical factors that directly influence surgical exposure and wound healing. [30] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.09.022)
- [L1] Following MMPRT repair, repairs show progression of osteoarthritis with higher rates seen with elevated BMI. [31] (10.1002/arj.70028)
- [L3] Our findings support a BMI-based approach to perioperative semaglutide use, particularly in patients who have a BMI >30. [32] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.09.056)
- [L2] High BMI elevates the risk of both knee and hand osteoarthritis irrespective of metabolic status, and the increased risk of knee osteoarthritis attributed to high BMI is more evident in metabolically healthy participants. [33] (10.1186/s12891-026-09495-5)
- [L1] CRF is a strong predictor of CVD and all-cause mortality and attenuates risks associated with overweight and obesity. [34] (10.1136/bjsports-2024-108748)
- [L2] Central obesity is significantly associated with the risk of glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, especially in secondary GJO and normal BMI populations, suggesting that fat distribution should be included in the early screening and risk assessment system for GJO. [35] (10.1016/j.jse.2025.07.007)
- [L3] In morbidly obese patients, DM implants demonstrated excellent five-year survivorship with outcomes comparable or slightly superior to fixed-bearing constructs. [36] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.03.075)
- [L1] Total weight loss % was higher in bariatric surgery patients (28.7%, P < 0.001). [37] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.05.033)
- [L1] Additionally, women with HIIT training had significant reduction in their weight and BMI compared to those who followed MICT training protocol. [38] (10.1186/s12891-026-09722-z)
- [L4] This multicenter data set has demonstrated improved patient-reported symptoms at the time of surgery, a decrease in mean patient BMI, and an increase in symptom duration reported prior to surgery. [39] (10.1002/ksa.12745)
- [L3] The ten-year functional outcomes and revision rates of THA do not justify restricting access to surgery on the basis of BMI. [40] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.07.044)
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