Does the level of obesity affect the mid-term outcomes of fix bearing medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty ?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of obesity level on the clinical outcomes and implant revision rates in obese patients who underwent unicompartmental knee replacement with fix insert for the treatment of knee medial compartment osteoarthritis. Between September 2012 and October 2015, 62 patients with preoperative body mass index over 30 were included in the current study. These patients were divided into three groups based on their body mass index level. Preoperative and postoperative knee joint range of motion, Oxford knee scores, visual analoque scale scores and prosthetic complication rates were cumulatively evaluated and the groups were compared in terms of the above clinical outcomes. The mean follow-up was 64.2 +/- 12.5 months. In the group 1 the mean preoperative Oxford score, visual anloque scale score and range of motion of the knee joint were 25.7/7.2/116.7 degrees, respectively while they were 41.4/2/139 degrees at the last followup. In the group 2, these preoperative values were 25/8.1/114,9 degrees while their postoperative values were 38.1/1.2/139 degrees. In the group 3, the preoperative values were 26/8.1/114,9 degrees while they were 35.1/1.2/139,8 degrees postoperatively. There were no statistically significant differences among the groups in terms of clinical scores and the range of knee joint motion. In obese patients diagnosed with medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee, unicompartmental knee replacement treatment with fix insert is a successful midterm surgical procedure. The success of this treatment does not depend on the degree of obesity.