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Cân nặng, béo phì và sức khỏe khớp
How body weight and obesity affect joint load, osteoarthritis, and the risks and outcomes of joint surgery — including the role of weight loss before an operation.
Định nghĩa¶
Cân nặng và sức khỏe khớp có liên quan chặt chẽ với nhau. Thừa cân tạo thêm tải trọng lên các khớp của bạn, đặc biệt là phần mặt trong của đầu gối. Điều đó giúp giải thích vì sao thoái hóa khớp do hao mòn (viêm xương khớp) thường gặp ở mặt trong đầu gối ở những người đang sống chung với béo phì [1]. Cân nặng dư thừa cũng ảnh hưởng đến toàn bộ cơ thể bạn, chứ không chỉ các khớp. Béo phì là một bệnh gây viêm khắp cơ thể, và tình trạng viêm đó cũng lan đến các khớp của bạn [2].
Trang này dành cho bất kỳ ai đang thừa cân và bị đau khớp, hoặc đang cân nhắc phẫu thuật khớp. Trang này cũng dành cho các bậc cha mẹ, vì béo phì ở trẻ em là một tình trạng có thể thay đổi được, và việc giải quyết nó có thể cải thiện sức khỏe khớp cũng như sức khỏe tổng thể của trẻ [3]. Tin tốt là cân nặng là một trong những điều bạn có thể làm gì đó để thay đổi. Giảm cân có thể làm dịu các triệu chứng ở khớp và giảm một số nguy cơ liên quan đến phẫu thuật.
Cân nặng dư thừa ảnh hưởng đến khớp theo hai cách chính. Cách thứ nhất là cơ học: mỗi bước đi, khớp phải chịu tải trọng lớn hơn. Cách thứ hai là hóa học: tình trạng viêm đi kèm với béo phì có thể làm mòn bề mặt trơn láng bên trong khớp, và ở người trưởng thành bị béo phì, bề mặt đó có thể không thích nghi tốt với tải trọng cao hơn [4]. Ở chiều ngược lại, thiếu cân cũng có những nguy cơ, trong đó có một số nguy cơ trùng với những nguy cơ gặp ở người béo phì [5].
Cân nặng và phẫu thuật có liên quan với nhau theo cả hai chiều. Những người thừa cân hoặc béo phì thường cần thay khớp háng và khớp gối ở độ tuổi trẻ hơn so với những người có cân nặng bình thường [6]. Nhưng cân nặng dư thừa không loại trừ khả năng phẫu thuật. Nghiên cứu xem xét kết quả mười năm sau thay khớp háng không tìm thấy lý do nào để hạn chế việc tiếp cận phẫu thuật chỉ dựa trên BMI [7]. Kiểm soát các bệnh lý khác và lên kế hoạch ca mổ cẩn thận có thể mang lại kết quả tương đương với những bệnh nhân có BMI bình thường [8].
Phương pháp này có hiệu quả không?¶
Câu trả lời thẳng thắn là bằng chứng chưa thống nhất, và một phần trong đó còn ít ỏi. Giảm cân có thể làm dịu các triệu chứng ở khớp và giảm một số nguy cơ liên quan đến phẫu thuật. Thông điệp chung đó vẫn đứng vững. Nhưng khi các nhà nghiên cứu xem xét kỹ từng loại phẫu thuật cụ thể, bức tranh kém rõ ràng hơn.
Đối với thay khớp háng và khớp gối, cân nặng dư thừa làm tăng khả năng phải phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa ở một số loại phẫu thuật. Các nghiên cứu ghi nhận tỷ lệ phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa cao hơn sau thay khớp gối một phần ở những người béo phì [9], và tỷ lệ phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa cao hơn sau thay khớp vai đảo ngược được thực hiện do gãy xương [10]. Đối với thay khớp háng, một nghiên cứu cho thấy mức độ béo phì không liên quan đến nguy cơ, mức độ xâm lấn hay thời điểm của các ca mổ lại [11]. Những kết quả như vậy không phải lúc nào cũng cùng chiều, và phần lớn các nghiên cứu có quy mô nhỏ hoặc chỉ theo dõi ngắn hạn.
Một số kết quả mang tính trấn an rõ ràng. Sau phẫu thuật nội soi khớp háng, những người béo phì có sự cải thiện lâu dài về cơn đau và chức năng tương đương với những người có cân nặng bình thường [12]. Sau phẫu thuật gãy xương cổ tay, một nghiên cứu không tìm thấy khác biệt về cử động khớp giữa những người có cân nặng bình thường và những người béo phì [13]. Mặt khác, phẫu thuật nội soi khớp gối thường kém hiệu quả hơn ở những người béo phì, đặc biệt khi đã có thoái hóa khớp [14].
Cũng có những khoảng trống. Đối với những người có BMI từ 45 trở lên, các nghiên cứu về một loại thay khớp gối có quy mô quá nhỏ để rút ra kết luận chắc chắn [15]. Đối với một số lựa chọn phẫu thuật, dữ liệu hiện có quá yếu để đưa ra hướng dẫn chắc chắn theo hướng nào [16].
Điều bạn nên ghi nhớ là như sau. Cân nặng dư thừa làm thay đổi một số nguy cơ liên quan đến phẫu thuật khớp, nhưng không loại trừ khả năng phẫu thuật, và nhiều người béo phì hồi phục tốt sau ca mổ. Bác sĩ có thể trao đổi với bạn về việc những kết quả nào trong số này áp dụng cho khớp và hoàn cảnh của bạn.
Những rủi ro là gì?¶
Những rủi ro có khả năng xảy ra nhất quanh phẫu thuật khớp là những rủi ro bạn nhận thấy trong những ngày và tuần đầu: các vấn đề về vết mổ, cứng khớp và hồi phục chậm hơn. Cân nặng dư thừa có thể khiến một số rủi ro này dễ xảy ra hơn. Sau phẫu thuật điều trị gãy xương ở cánh tay và bàn tay, những người béo phì có tỷ lệ biến chứng cao hơn trong 90 ngày đầu và một lần nữa ở thời điểm 2 năm [17]. Ở thời điểm 2 năm, các biến chứng đó bao gồm xương liền sai vị trí, xương không liền, và cần phẫu thuật thêm [17].
Một số rủi ro phụ thuộc vào khớp và loại phẫu thuật. Sau thay khớp gối một phần, những người béo phì phải phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa thường xuyên hơn [9]. Điều tương tự cũng đúng sau thay khớp vai đảo ngược được thực hiện do gãy xương, khi cân nặng dư thừa có liên quan đến nhiều ca phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa hơn nói chung và nhiều vấn đề trật khớp hơn [10]. Ở một loại thay khớp gối có robot hỗ trợ, béo phì vẫn là một yếu tố nguy cơ khiến khớp nhân tạo bị lỏng hoặc hỏng về mặt cơ học [18].
Không phải mọi rủi ro đều cùng chiều, và một số kết quả thực sự chưa thống nhất. Trong một nghiên cứu khác về thay khớp gối có robot hỗ trợ, xu hướng nhiều biến chứng hơn ở những người béo phì nặng (BMI từ 35 trở lên) không rõ ràng về mặt thống kê [19]. Cứng khớp sau thay khớp gối là một mối lo đã được biết đến, nhưng một nghiên cứu cho thấy cân nặng cao hơn không liên quan đến tình trạng cứng khớp nhiều hơn hoặc kết quả kém hơn sau một thủ thuật giải phóng khớp gối bị cứng [20]. Thiếu cân cũng có những rủi ro, và một số trong đó trùng với các rủi ro của béo phì [5].
Cũng có những khoảng trống thực sự trong hiểu biết hiện nay. Đối với những người có BMI từ 45 trở lên, các nghiên cứu về một loại thay khớp gối có quy mô quá nhỏ để rút ra kết luận chắc chắn về độ an toàn [15]. Đối với trẻ em bị gãy xương chi dưới, béo phì đồng nghĩa với thời gian nằm viện dài hơn và nhiều trường hợp xuất viện không theo mong muốn của gia đình hơn [21].
Bức tranh tổng thể là như sau. Cân nặng dư thừa làm tăng một số rủi ro liên quan đến phẫu thuật, nhưng không loại trừ khả năng phẫu thuật, và nhiều rủi ro trong số này có thể được giảm bớt bằng cách kiểm soát các bệnh lý khác và lên kế hoạch ca mổ cẩn thận [8]. Bác sĩ có thể trao đổi với bạn về việc những rủi ro nào trong số này áp dụng cho bạn.
Liệu phương pháp này có phù hợp với bạn không?¶
Nếu bạn đang thừa cân và bị đau khớp, trang này được viết dành cho bạn. Cân nặng dư thừa không loại trừ khả năng phẫu thuật. Nhiều người béo phì hồi phục tốt sau thay khớp háng và khớp gối, đặc biệt khi các bệnh lý khác được kiểm soát và ca mổ được lên kế hoạch cẩn thận [8]. Giảm cân trước phẫu thuật có thể làm dịu các triệu chứng ở khớp và giảm một số nguy cơ liên quan đến ca mổ.
Phẫu thuật không phải là con đường duy nhất. Đối với một số khớp và một số loại phẫu thuật, cân nặng dư thừa làm tăng khả năng phải phẫu thuật chỉnh sửa về sau [9]. Bác sĩ có thể cùng bạn so sánh các lựa chọn, bao gồm cả chăm sóc không phẫu thuật như tập luyện và kiểm soát cân nặng, và giúp bạn cân nhắc những gì mỗi lựa chọn mang lại.
Đây là một quyết định chung. Bạn mang đến mục tiêu, cơn đau và cuộc sống hằng ngày của mình. Bác sĩ mang đến bằng chứng về khớp và hoàn cảnh của bạn. Cùng nhau, hai bên có thể quyết định thời điểm và loại điều trị phù hợp với bạn.
Tóm lại¶
Thừa cân ảnh hưởng đến các khớp của bạn và một số rủi ro liên quan đến phẫu thuật, nhưng không loại trừ khả năng phẫu thuật. Giảm cân có thể làm dịu các triệu chứng ở khớp và giảm một số rủi ro đó, và đáng để cân nhắc như một phần trong kế hoạch của bạn, cùng với tập luyện và các hình thức chăm sóc khác. Kỳ vọng thực tế là tiến bộ đều đặn chứ không phải một giải pháp nhanh chóng, vì kết quả khác nhau ở mỗi người. Lưu ý quan trọng nhất là bằng chứng về từng loại phẫu thuật cụ thể chưa thống nhất, vì vậy hãy trao đổi với bác sĩ về việc những kết quả nào áp dụng cho khớp và hoàn cảnh của bạn.
Tài liệu tham khảo¶
[1] Cartilage contact characteristics of the knee during gait in individuals with obesity. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2022. DOI: 10.1002/jor.25288
[2] Reframing Obesity in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Call for a Transdisciplinary Approach Beyond Biomechanics. Arthroscopy. 2026. DOI: 10.1002/arj.70051
[3] The Role of Obesity in Pediatric Orthopedics. JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews. 2019. DOI: 10.5435/jaaosglobal-d-19-00036
[4] Body mass index moderates the association between gait kinetics, body composition, and femoral knee cartilage characteristics. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2020. DOI: 10.1002/jor.24655
[5] Weight on the fixation: the influence of body mass index on lower extremity fracture fixation outcomes. Injury. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112864
[6] Overweight and Obese Patients Require Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty at a Younger Age. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2019. DOI: 10.1002/jor.24460
[7] Do the Ten-Year Functional Outcomes and Revision Rates of Total Hip Arthroplasty in Obese and Morbidly Obese Patients Justify Restricting Their Access to Surgery?. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.07.044
[8] 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
[9] Obesity is Associated with Higher Rates of Revision Following Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026. DOI: 10.1177/2325967125s00336
[10] 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
[11] Obesity Class Does Not Associate With Incidence, Timing, or Invasiveness of Reoperations After Total Hip Arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.07.026
[12] 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
[13] Influence of body mass index on health-related quality of life after surgical treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures. A retrospective 7-year follow-up study. Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation. 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.hansur.2019.09.004
[14] 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
[15] 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
[16] Reply to: "Letter to the Editor Commenting on: 'Current Evidence Does Not Support the Use of Tibial Stem Extension in Total Knee Arthroplasty of Obese Patients: A Systematic Review'". The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.11.056
[17] Obesity is associated with higher 90-day and 2-year complication rates following surgical fixation of upper extremity fractures: A nationwide analysis. Injury. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112891
[18] 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
[19] 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
[20] 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
[21] 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
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].
- Obesity is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health, extending beyond mechanical burden [11].
- There is significant confusion regarding the relationship between energy intake, energy expenditure, and obesity, with greater attention historically focused on diet than physical inactivity [5].
- 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 [10].
- Each 1-unit increase in body mass index is associated with a 9% reduction in osteoporosis risk [2].
- Obesity affects knee cartilage contact location primarily in the medial compartment, which explains part of the high prevalence of medial knee osteoarthritis in the obese population [17].
- Increased CDC weight category is associated with worsening clinical outcomes across all measures following meniscus repair in pediatric and adolescent populations [8].
- Increased body mass index among patients with total joint replacement is associated with decreased ambulatory activity [13].
- Overweight and obese patients require total hip and total knee arthroplasty at a significantly younger age than normal-weight patients [18].
- Obese and overweight patients convert to total hip arthroplasty at significantly higher rates compared with normal-weight patients following hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome [22].
- Underweight patients demonstrate an elevated risk for complications that overlap with those seen in obese patients following lower extremity fracture fixation, yet experience lower rates of other complications [6].
- In a cohort of obese patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, WHO obesity class was not associated with the risk, invasiveness, or timing of reoperations [21].
- Ten-year functional outcomes and revision rates of total hip arthroplasty do not justify restricting access to surgery on the basis of body mass index [51].
- Increasing obesity severity is not associated with higher rates of postoperative stiffness or inferior outcomes following manipulation under anesthesia after total knee arthroplasty [12].
- Focusing on management of preoperative comorbidities and custom surgical planning can achieve outcomes comparable to those of patients with normal body mass index in ambulatory surgical centers, questioning body mass index as an exclusion criterion for primary total joint arthroplasty [3].
- 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 [15].
- The absence of direct comparative studies precludes causal inference regarding the role of weight-bearing timing in medial meniscus posterior root tear repair [7].
- Mortality did not decrease in association with increasing body mass index in isolated blunt abdominal trauma, as this may be offset by the increase in co-morbidities in this population [4].
- The Arthritis Committee recognizes the profound importance of arthritic disorders to the general population, not only as a health problem, but for their social and economic impact [25].
- Both the individual and the physician have many options from which to choose when selecting an appropriate weight loss program [14].
How It Works¶
Systemic and Metabolic Mechanisms¶
- Obesity is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health [11].
- Obesity promotes lipid accumulation in mouse cartilage via acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) mediated chondrocyte de novo lipogenesis [41].
- Inhibition of ACC ameliorates lipid accumulation in chondrocytes, suggesting ACC could be targeted to treat obesity-associated osteoarthritis [41].
- Diet-induced obesity alters bone morphology and mineral density in a manner dependent on dietary free fatty acid content [40].
- Adolescent murine obesity alters structural, mechanical, and compositional properties of bone, which may have lasting implications on bone health even after obesity is corrected [36].
- There is confusion regarding the relation of energy intake and energy expenditure to obesity, with more attention focused on diet than physical inactivity [5].
- An aggregate exercise programme energy expenditure greater than 10,000 kcal may be required to promote reductions in intrahepatic fat [20].
- When combined with liraglutide treatment, exercise results in a more holistic state of health that may enhance adherence and promote longer-term weight-loss maintenance [19].
Biomechanical and Cartilage Effects¶
- Obesity affects knee cartilage contact location mainly in the medial compartment, explaining part of the high prevalence of medial knee osteoarthritis in the obese population [17].
- Articular cartilage may not adapt to higher joint loads in adults with obesity [39].
- Aging and obesity are associated with a loss of the positive relationship between cartilage thickness and ambulatory loads [23].
- Under weight-bearing conditions, patellofemoral joint contact areas increased by an average of 24% [43].
- Obesity did not enhance cartilage degeneration in the absence of fracture or surgical trauma [34].
Clinical Outcomes and Complications¶
- Each 1-unit increase in BMI is associated with a 9% reduction in osteoporosis risk [2].
- Following medial meniscus posterior root tear repair, osteoarthritis progression occurs at higher rates with elevated BMI [38].
- Obese patients demonstrate increased risks of malunion, nonunion, and revision at 2 years following surgical fixation of upper extremity fractures [26].
- Underweight patients demonstrate an elevated risk for complications that overlap with those seen in obese patients following lower extremity fracture fixation [6].
- Obesity remains a critical risk factor for mechanical failures in functionally aligned image-based robotic total knee arthroplasty [28].
- 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 [42].
- A statistically significant increase in arthrofibrosis was found in patients with BMI <25 kg/m2 undergoing robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty [42].
- Modern surgical practices and implant designs may have mitigated traditional obesity-related risks regarding loosening and mechanical failure in total knee arthroplasty [24].
- Increasing obesity severity is not associated with higher rates of postoperative stiffness or inferior outcomes following manipulation under anesthesia for total knee arthroplasty [12].
- 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 for primary total joint arthroplasty [3].
- Body mass index has a weak-to-moderate association with peri-incisional adiposity in primary total joint arthroplasty patients [27].
- The soft tissue-to-bone ratio reflects local anatomical factors that directly influence surgical exposure and wound healing, unlike BMI [35].
- No significant differences were observed between above-average and below-average BMI groups regarding clinical improvements following arthroscopically assisted posterior latissimus dorsi tendon transfer [16].
Trauma and Mortality¶
- Mortality did not decrease in association with increasing BMI in isolated blunt abdominal trauma, potentially offset by increased co-morbidities [4].
- The "Obesity Paradox" in major trauma is explained by biomechanical protection resulting in a lower Injury Severity Score, which neutralizes the increased physiological and comorbidity burden of the obese state [37].
Modifiability and Management¶
- Obesity is modifiable, and addressing the issue can improve the orthopaedic and overall health of children [1].
- Both individuals and physicians have many options from which to choose when selecting an appropriate weight loss program [14].
What the Evidence Shows¶
Pediatric Orthopedics¶
- Increased CDC weight category is associated with worsening clinical outcomes across all measures in pediatric and adolescent populations following meniscus repair [8].
- Pediatric obesity substantially lengthened length of stay and encouraged undesirable discharge when compared to non-obese individuals in lower extremity fracture cases [32].
Bone Density and Systemic Effects¶
- Each 1-unit increase in BMI was associated with a 9% reduction in osteoporosis risk based on a dose–response analysis of nine studies [2].
- Obesity is more than a mechanical burden on the knee; it is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health [11].
Total Joint Arthroplasty: Knee¶
- 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 knee arthroplasty, questioning BMI as an exclusion criterion [3].
- Increasing obesity severity is not associated with higher rates of postoperative stiffness or inferior outcomes following manipulation under anesthesia, and concern for stiffness alone should not serve as a categorical barrier to total knee arthroplasty or manipulation under anesthesia when clinically indicated [12].
- Obesity remains a critical risk factor for mechanical failures in functionally aligned image-based robotic total knee arthroplasty, despite comparable functional outcomes [28].
- Obese patients are at increased risk of higher rate of revision following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty based on AOANJRR data [33].
- Total weight loss percentage was higher in bariatric surgery patients (28.7%, P < 0.001) compared to immediate total knee arthroplasty in patients with severe obesity and advanced knee osteoarthritis [47].
- The numbers were too small to draw conclusions in patients who have a BMI ≥ 45 regarding the safety of cementless total knee arthroplasty [9].
Total Joint Arthroplasty: Hip¶
- 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 [21].
- In morbidly obese patients, dual mobility implants demonstrated excellent five-year survivorship with outcomes comparable or slightly superior to fixed-bearing constructs [44].
- 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 [30].
Total Joint Arthroplasty: Shoulder¶
- Obesity has an increased risk of all-cause revisions and revision for instability or dislocation in patients receiving reverse total shoulder arthroplasty indicated for fractures [29].
Arthroscopy and Soft Tissue¶
- 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 [22].
- Hip arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement and labral tears in patients with obesity yielded significant and sustainable long-term improvements, which were equivalent to those of a benchmark matched control group of normal-weight patients [45].
- 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 [16].
- 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 [50].
Fracture Fixation and Trauma¶
- Underweight patients demonstrated an elevated risk for complications that overlapped with those seen in obese patients, yet experienced lower rates of others, in lower extremity fracture fixation [6].
- At 2 years, obese patients demonstrated increased risks of malunion, nonunion, and revision following surgical fixation of upper extremity fractures [26].
- Mortality did not decrease in association with increasing BMI in isolated blunt abdominal trauma, as this may be offset by the increase in co-morbidities in this population [4].
Patient Selection and Preoperative Factors¶
- BMI has a weak-to-moderate association with peri-incisional adiposity in primary total joint arthroplasty patients [27].
- Women had decreased odds of losing greater than five pounds before surgery despite increased odds of having preoperative bariatric surgery [31].
- Increased body mass index among patients with a total joint replacement is associated with decreased ambulatory activity [13].
Weight Management and Lifestyle¶
- 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 [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 [10].
- 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 [19].
- An aggregate exercise programme energy expenditure (>10 000 kcal) may be required to promote reductions in intrahepatic fat in adults who are overweight or exhibit fatty liver disease [20].
- Women with high-intensity interval training had significant reduction in their weight and BMI compared to those who followed moderate-intensity continuous training protocol in post-bariatric surgery patients with sarcopenic obesity [48].
Practical Considerations¶
Preoperative Management and Weight Loss¶
- Obesity is a modifiable condition, and addressing it can improve orthopaedic and overall health in children [1].
- There is significant confusion regarding the relationship between energy intake, energy expenditure, and obesity, with greater attention focused on diet than on physical inactivity [5].
- Both individuals and physicians have multiple options available when selecting an appropriate weight loss program [14].
- 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 [19].
Arthroplasty Outcomes and Complications¶
- 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, questioning BMI as an exclusion criterion [3].
- The numbers in the study were too small to draw conclusions in patients who have a BMI ≥ 45 regarding cementless total knee arthroplasty [9].
- Increasing obesity severity is not associated with higher rates of postoperative stiffness or inferior outcomes following manipulation under anesthesia, and concern for stiffness alone should not serve as a categorical barrier to TKA or MUA when clinically indicated [12].
- Obesity is associated with higher rates of revision following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty based on AOANJRR data [33].
- Overweight and obese patients require total hip and total knee arthroplasty at a significantly younger age compared to normal-weight patients [18].
Fracture and Trauma Outcomes¶
- Underweight patients demonstrated an elevated risk for complications that overlapped with those seen in obese patients, yet experienced lower rates of other complications in lower extremity fracture fixation [6].
- Obesity substantially lengthened length of stay and encouraged undesirable discharge when compared to non-obese individuals in pediatric lower extremity fractures [32].
Joint Health and Biomechanics¶
- Obesity is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health, extending beyond a mechanical burden on the knee [11].
- Obesity affects the contact location mainly in the medial compartment of the knee, which explains, in part, the high prevalence of medial knee osteoarthritis in the obese population [17].
- Aging and obesity are both associated with a loss of the positive relationship between cartilage thickness and ambulatory loads, and this relationship is dependent on the compartment and whether the load is generated by body size or subject-specific gait mechanics [23].
Soft Tissue and Arthroscopic Outcomes¶
- The absence of direct comparative studies precludes causal inference regarding the role of weight-bearing timing in medial meniscus posterior root tears repair [7].
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)
- [L3] Mortality did not decrease in association with increasing BMI, as this may be offset by the increase in co-morbidities in this population. [4] (10.1016/j.injury.2024.111612)
- [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. [5] (10.1136/bjsports-2015-094911)
- [L3] Underweight patients demonstrated an elevated risk for complications that overlapped with those seen in obese patients, yet experienced lower rates of others. [6] (10.1016/j.injury.2025.112864)
- [L4] However, the absence of direct comparative studies precludes causal inference regarding the role of weight-bearing timing. [7] (10.1002/arj.70529)
- [L3] Increased CDC weight category is associated with worsening clinical outcomes across all measures. [8] (10.1016/j.injury.2026.113122)
- [L3] However, the numbers were too small to draw conclusions in patients who have a BMI ≥ 45. [9] (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. [10] (10.1136/bjsports-2023-107252)
- [L5] Obesity is more than a mechanical burden on the knee; it is a systemic disease with profound inflammatory consequences on joint health. [11] (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. [12] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.03.080)
- [L4] We therefore conclude that increased body mass index (greater obesity) among patients with a total joint replacement is associated with decreased ambulatory activity. [13] (10.1002/jor.1100180106)
- [Paper] Both the individual and the physician have many options from which to choose when selecting an appropriate weight loss program. [14] (10.1016/s0278-5919(05)70176-9)
- [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. [15] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.11.056)
- [L2] No significant differences were observed between above-average and below-average BMI groups, and BMI was not correlated with clinical improvements. [16] (10.1016/j.xrrt.2025.100634)
- [L4] These findings suggest that obesity affects the contact location mainly in the medial compartment, which explains, in part, the high prevalence of medial knee OA in the obese population. [17] (10.1002/jor.25288)
- [L3] This is the first study to demonstrate the significantly earlier age at which THA and TKA are required for overweight patients and those in obese category 1, in addition to those in obesity categories 2 and 3. [18] (10.1002/jor.24460)
- [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. [19] (10.1136/bjsports-2021-104754)
- [L1] An aggregate exercise programme energy expenditure (>10 000 kcal) may be required to promote reductions in intrahepatic fat. [20] (10.1136/bjsports-2016-096197)
- [L3] In this cohort of obese patients who underwent THA, the WHO obesity class was not associated with risk, invasiveness, or timing of reoperations. [21] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.07.026)
- [L3] Obese and overweight patients converted to THA at significantly higher rates compared with normal-weight patients. [22] (10.1177/03635465251400355)
- [L4] These results suggest that aging and obesity are both associated with a loss of the positive relationship between cartilage thickness and ambulatory loads, and that the relationship is dependent on the compartment and whether the load is generated by body size or subject-specific gait mechanics. [23] (10.1002/jor.22530)
- [L3] These findings suggest modern surgical practices and implant designs may have mitigated traditional obesity-related risks. [24] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.04.031)
- [Paper] The Arthritis Committee recognizes the profound importance of arthritic disorders to the general population, not only as a health problem, but for their social and economic impact. [25] (10.1016/s0363-5023(83)80245-7)
- [L3] At 2 years, obese patients demonstrated increased risks of malunion, nonunion, and revision. [26] (10.1016/j.injury.2025.112891)
- [L3] BMI has a weak-to-moderate association with peri-incisional adiposity in primary total joint arthroplasty patients. [27] (10.1016/j.arth.2024.08.020)
- [L3] However, obesity remains a critical risk factor for mechanical failures. [28] (10.1016/j.jisako.2025.100861)
- [L3] Obesity has an increased risk of all-cause revisions and revision for instability or dislocation in patients receiving rTSA indicated for fractures. [29] (10.1016/j.jse.2025.05.036)
- [L3] Semaglutide appears to be a safe alternative to bariatric surgery for weight management before THA, with similar implant survival and postoperative complication rates. [30] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.08.068)
- [L3] Women had decreased odds of losing greater than five pounds before surgery despite increased odds of having preoperative bariatric surgery. [31] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.06.021)
- [L4] Obesity substantially lengthened length of stay and encouraged undesirable discharge when compared to non-obese individuals. [32] (10.1186/s12891-025-09349-6)
- [L3] Based on AOANJRR data, obese patients are at increased risk of higher rate of revision following UKA. [33] (10.1177/2325967125s00336)
- [Paper] Obesity did not enhance cartilage degeneration in the absence of fracture or surgical trauma. [34] (10.1002/jor.24799)
- [L3] Unlike BMI, the STiB ratio reflects local anatomical factors that directly influence surgical exposure and wound healing. [35] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.09.022)
- [Paper] Adolescent murine obesity alters structural, mechanical and compositional properties of the bone, which may have lasting implication on bone health even after the obesity is corrected. [36] (10.1002/jor.25378)
- [L3] Our findings strongly suggest that the "Obesity Paradox" in major trauma is not a mere statistical anomaly, but a reproducible phenomenon with a distinct mechanistic explanation: Biomechanical protection, which results in a lower ISS, neutralizes the increased physiological and comorbidity burden of the obese state. [37] (10.1016/j.injury.2025.112913)
- [L1] Following MMPRT repair, repairs show progression of osteoarthritis with higher rates seen with elevated BMI. [38] (10.1002/arj.70028)
- [L4] These findings suggest that articular cartilage may not adapt to higher joint loads in adults with obesity. [39] (10.1002/jor.24655)
- [Paper] Diet-induced obesity significantly altered bone morphology and mineral density in a manner that was dependent on dietary free fatty acid content. [40] (10.1002/jor.24219)
- [Paper] This was supported by the observation that ACC inhibition ameliorated lipid accumulation in chondrocytes, thereby suggesting that ACC could potentially be targeted to treat obesity-associated OA. [41] (10.1002/jor.25322)
- [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. [42] (10.1016/j.jisako.2025.100927)
- [L4] Under weight-bearing conditions, contact areas increased by an average of 24% (p < 0.05). [43] (10.1016/j.orthres.2004.08.003)
- [L3] In morbidly obese patients, DM implants demonstrated excellent five-year survivorship with outcomes comparable or slightly superior to fixed-bearing constructs. [44] (10.1016/j.arth.2026.03.075)
- [L3] Hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAI and labral tears in patients with obesity yielded significant and sustainable long-term improvements, which were equivalent to those of a benchmark matched control group of normal-weight patients. [45] (10.1177/03635465251392585)
- [L1] Total weight loss % was higher in bariatric surgery patients (28.7%, P < 0.001). [47] (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. [48] (10.1186/s12891-026-09722-z)
- [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. [50] (10.1016/j.arthro.2025.04.036)
- [L3] The ten-year functional outcomes and revision rates of THA do not justify restricting access to surgery on the basis of BMI. [51] (10.1016/j.arth.2025.07.044)
References¶
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[29] 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
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[39] Body mass index moderates the association between gait kinetics, body composition, and femoral knee cartilage characteristics. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2020. DOI: 10.1002/jor.24655
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