If you are in need of a total knee or total hip replacement surgery and your weight is significantly higher than it should be, It is advisable to lose weight before the surgery. Even though you may feel fit and healthy at your current weight, it is important to understand that patients with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 40 is more likely to experience less than satisfactory outcomes after surgery than a patient of normal weight. It is important to be aware of these risks so that you can take steps to minimise them before your procedure.
What is BMI?
BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Typically, the higher your BMI, the more body fat you have.
For an adult, the following BMI ranges apply:
BMI Range Weight Status
18 to 24 Normal
25 to 29 Overweight
30 to 39 Obese
40 to 49 Morbidly obese
Patients with obesity are also more likely to have certain diseases and health conditions that can increase the risks of surgery. These include:
- Cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
It is important to be in the best health possible before joint replacement surgery. If you have one of these conditions, it is important to work with relevant specialists to keep them under control so that they do not compromise your outcome and mobility after joint replacement.
Increased Risk of Complications
There are risks associated with every surgery. However, some risks are greater for patients with obesity.
Complications During Surgery:
Anesthesia: It is more difficult to administer anesthesia to a patient with obesity. Challenges for the anesthesiologist include:
- Locating veins to administer general anesthesia and necessary medications
- Ensuring that oxygen and airflow are sufficient
- Properly positioning the needle when delivering spinal and epidural nerve blocks and other types of regional anesthesia
Operative times: There are technical challenges associated with performing surgery on a patient with obesity, so operative times are often longer. In general, the longer you are in surgery, the greater your risk of experiencing complications.
Complications After Surgery
Compared with a patient of normal weight, a patient with obesity is more likely to experience the following complications after surgery:
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Difficulty in breathing
- Blood clots
- Pulmonary embolism - a blood clot in the lungs
Lesser Outcomes after Joint Replacement
Joint replacement will help relieve your pain and enable you to live a fuller, more active life. However, if you have obesity, you may never achieve the increased mobility and range of motion experienced by a patient of normal weight.
You may also experience more implant complications after surgery, such as:
- Component loosening and failure
- Dislocation of the replacement joint, especially in the hip
In some cases, a second "revision" surgery may be necessary to remove failed implantsand replace them with new ones.
Reducing Your Risks
In most cases, total hip and total knee replacement are elective procedures. For this reason, your doctor may recommend that you try nonsurgical treatments—such as medications and physical therapy—in order to delay your joint replacement surgery. This will give you time to lose weight and reduce your BMI before your procedure.
Losing Weight
The key elements to losing weight are diet and exercise. Most weight loss happen in the kitchen, so it is important that you focus the most on what you eat. In general, you should try to make the following lifestyle changes:
- Reduce your fat and calorie intake. Try to eat meals that are full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy. Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks that are high in calories. You may also consider seeing a dietician.
- Get more physical activity and exercise. If you have constant hip or knee pain, you may not be as active as you were before. Low-impact activities- such as swimming, biking, or using an elliptical machine - will put less strain on your joints than strenuous exercise and will still be effective in helping you lose weight.
Is it not easy for me to lose weight after restoring mobility with joint replacementsurgery?
Patients who need joint replacement surgery often intend to lose weight after their procedure thinking that their relief from pain will enable them to be more physically active. In reality, however, only a small percentage of patients with obesity actually lose weight after joint replacement—the majority of patients maintain the same BMI after surgery. So rather than waiting, it is worthwhile to start establishing a healthier lifestyle now before your joint replacement surgery. Losing weight and reducing your BMI will decrease your risk for complications and increase the likelihood of a successful surgical outcome. In some cases, it may also decrease your pain to the point where joint replacement may no longer be needed or can be put off for a number of years.
Although reaching and staying at a healthy weight can be a long-term challenge, the payoff is significant. If you need help losing weight and lowering your BMI before joint replacement surgery, talk to your doctor. He can recommend specific low-impact exercises and activities and help you choose a weight-loss plan that fits your needs and lifestyle.
