Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between body mass index and early complications following knee replacement.
Methods: Five hundred and twenty-seven patients who underwent primary knee replacement were recruited. All these patients were subjected to a pre-operative assessment and follow-up at 6 weeks and 1 year following surgery. Any complication occurring during this period was recorded. Complications were grouped into systemic and local, minor and major.
Results: 12.1% (N = 64) patients had an early complication following knee replacement surgery; 9.2% (N = 48) patients had a major complication. Overall BMI did not seem to influence significantly the rate of complication with a P-value of 0.338. A stronger correlation was found between the surgeon and presence of complication with a P-value of 0.004.
Conclusions: BMI has a weak correlation to early complications following joint replacement surgery. The operating surgeon seems to have a stronger correlation to early complications as compared with BMI.