Does bariatric surgery improve outcomes of lower limb total joint arthroplasty?

Abstract

Obesity is a strong modifiable risk factor for both the incidence and progression of lower limb osteoarthritis, particularly of the knee joint. Obesity is also associated with worse outcomes for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) of the hip and knee. Bariatric surgery (BS) is an increasingly common mode of weight loss. This systematic review shows no clear pattern of the impact of BS on lower limb TJA. Therefore, prophylactic BS prior to lower limb TJA to induce weight loss does not significantly impact postoperative complication rates.