Does obesity negatively affect the functional results of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy? A retrospective cohort study

Arthroscopy. 2013 Feb;29(2):232-7. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2012.08.017. Epub 2012 Dec 24.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on early functional results of patients who undergo isolated partial meniscectomy.

Methods: The functional results for 1,090 patients who underwent partial meniscectomy, in 2 different orthopaedic clinics, were evaluated retrospectively. The study includes cases with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for isolated meniscal tears; patients with concomitant knee pathology were excluded. Three hundred forty-one (31%) patients with isolated lateral meniscal tears, 628 (58%) patients with isolated medial meniscal tears, and 121 (11%) patients with both medial and lateral meniscal tears underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. We divided these patients into 3 subgroups on the basis of their BMI; <26, between 26 and 30, ≥30. Preoperative functional results were compared with 1-year postoperative follow-up results using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC),(26) Lysholm Knee Scale,(27) and Oxford Scoring System(28) scores.

Results: According to all 3 knee scales, age, side of lesion, and tear type had no effect on functional outcome. When compared with the group with BMI <26, the patients with BMI between 26 and 30 and the patients with BMI ≥30 had significantly worse outcomes as measured by the IKDC, Oxford Scoring System, and Lysholm Knee Scale scores. Patients with BMI between 26 and 30 and ≥30 did not have significantly different functional outcomes.

Conclusions: Short-term outcomes after arthroscopic partial menisectomy reflect significant improvement in subjective outcome. However, patients with moderate or significant obesity (BMI >26) have inferior short-term outcomes compared with nonobese patients.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Arthroscopy
  • Body Mass Index
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee Injuries / complications
  • Knee Injuries / surgery*
  • Knee Joint / surgery*
  • Male
  • Menisci, Tibial / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Recovery of Function
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tibial Meniscus Injuries
  • Young Adult