Intra-operative and short term outcome of total knee arthroplasty in morbidly obese patients

BACKGROUND: Longer operation times, poorer patient outcomes and increased early post-operative complications are reasons cited for not undertaking total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on morbidly obese patients. This study tests the hypothesis that there is no difference in intra-operative parameters between morbidly obese and non-obese patients, and no difference in patient outcome. METHODS: Intra-operative parameters, post-operative complications, patient outcomes and knee range of motion were compared between morbidly obese patients (BMI>40 kg/m2) and individually age and gender matched non-obese patients (BMI