Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty in Super-obese Patients: Dramatically Higher Postoperative Complication Rates Even Compared to Revision Surgery

This study utilized a national database to evaluate 90 day postoperative complication rates after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in super obese (BMI > 50 kg/m²) patients (n = 7666) compared to non-obese patients (n = 1,212,793), obese patients (n = 291,914), morbidly obese patients (n = 169,308) and revision TKA patients (n = 28,812). Super obese patients had significantly higher rates of local and systemic complications compared to all other BMI groups as well as those undergoing revision TKA with higher rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE), infection, and medical complications. Super obesity is associated with dramatically increased rates of postoperative complications after TKA compared to non-obese, obese, and morbidly obese patients as well as those undergoing revision TKA.