Original Articles
Comparison of weight changes after total hip or knee arthroplasty*,**

https://doi.org/10.1054/arth.2001.9826Get rights and content

Abstract

A prospective study of the effect on weight in 192 patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA) (124 hips) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (68 knees) was performed. Patients' weights at 1 year after THA or TKA were compared with their preoperative weights. There was little or no effect on a patient's weight after TKA. Women undergoing THA gained on average 3.1 kg (6.8 lb), whereas men gained on average 2.5 kg (5.5 lb). This information may be of benefit to a surgeon whose patient needs encouragement to lose weight before undergoing a THA.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

A prospective study of 192 patients undergoing either TKA (68 knees) or THA (124 hips) was carried out. The preoperative weight for each group was compared with the weight at 1 year postoperatively, and the change in weight was then calculated for each patient. The change in weight at 1 year was analyzed statistically using the nonparametric Student's t-test.

Results

A total of 192 patients underwent THA or TKA. Of these patients, 68 were TKAs, and 124 were THAs. There were 40 women and 28 men in the TKA group. There were 78 women and 46 men in the THA group. The average age of patients undergoing TKA was 71 years; the average age for women was 71 years and for men was 70 years (range: 54-89 years for women; 34-86 years for men). The average age for patients undergoing THA was 68 years; the average age for women was 69 years and for men was 66 years (range:

Discussion

When asked to lose weight preoperatively, patients argue that limited mobility affects their ability to lose weight. In this study, although the numbers are small, it appears that TKA has little effect on a patient's weight 1 year after surgery. Although the average weight change was minimal, 4 of the patients lost a relatively large amount of weight, which may have biased this average. Patients who lost weight represented the minority. The results suggest that patients gain weight after

Conclusion

This study suggests that patients do not lose weight after TKA or THA and that women undergoing THA gain weight at 1 year. This study provides evidence against the argument that immobility is the only limiting factor in preventing weight loss preoperatively. This is useful information for surgeons whose patients need encouragement to lose weight preoperatively.

References (3)

  • NL Young et al.

    Patient characteristics that affect the outcome of total hip arthroplasty: a review

    Can J Surg

    (1998)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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*

No benefits or funds were received in support of this study.

**

Reprint requests: M. J. Woodruff, FRCS(Ed), 6 Woodbridge Avenue, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 2PJ UK.

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