Changes in Body Mass Index after Arthroscopic Surgery and Its Effect on Functional Outcomes

Objective: Arthroscopic surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures in orthopedic surgery. Post-surgery weight gain is one of the most important factors that affects the functional outcomes of arthroscopic surgery. This study investigated the effect of changes in the body mass index (BMI) in the period after arthroscopic surgery and the potential impact of these changes on functional outcomes. Methods: One hundred-sixty four patients (knee and hip arthroscopy patients) were evaluated retrospectively. Changes in the BMI and functional scores of the patients between the preoperative period and first, third, and sixth months postoperatively were compared. Results: The mean age of the patients was 36.03 (15 - 64) years, and the mean follow-up was 14.2 months (6 - 29) months. Postoperative increases in the BMI values in the first, third, and sixth months were statistically significant in the three groups of patients (i.e., meniscal pathology, ligament pathology, and intra-articular hip pathology) (p < 0.001). The correlations of the BMI and functional score changes in the intra-articular hip pathology (hip arthroscopy) (p = 0.564), meniscal pathology (p = 0.854), and ligament pathology groups (p = 0.908) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Patients may gain weight following arthroscopic surgery of the knee and hip. Orthopedic surgeons should keep this issue in mind and educate patients about how to prevent potential weight gain to ensure it does not adversely affect functional outcomes.