Review article: Outcome of total knee arthroplasty in obese patients.

The MEDLINE database was searched using the key words: 'obesity' and 'knee arthroplasty'. 41 articles focused on the topic were reviewed; most studies were prospective case series (providing low-level evidence) and 3 were systematic reviews. 16 studies reported no adverse association between obesity and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcome, whereas 24 studies reported a poorer TKA outcome in obese patients. In the 3 systematic reviews, obesity was reported to adversely affect the outcome, the rate of complications, implant survival, and the cost of TKA.