According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, which U.S. News and World Report ranked No. 1 in orthopedics in 2010-11, approximately 581,000 knee replacements are performed every year in the United States. A knee replacement surgery can help you to have better function and reduce pain in diseased or injured knees. The Hospital for Special Surgery reports that due to new surgical procedures and better implant designs, a total knee replacement can last you for about 15 to 20 years. However, if you are overweight you may need to reduce your weight before having this surgery.
Diagnosis
You will need to see an orthopedic physician to determine if you are in need of knee replacement surgery. At this time, your physician will do a full physical examination and discuss the concerns that he may have about your weight.
Risks
Any surgical procedure has its risks and according to MayoClinic.com, only 2 percent of people who undergo a knee replacement surgery experience serious complications. However, the Hospital for Special Surgery reports that obese patients have a higher risk for the knee implant to wear and loosen. This could mean that your implant may not last as long as ones in people who are at a normal weight. It also means that you may experience increased pain and discomfort, knee stiffness, nerve damage and infection.
Weight Loss
Since exercise is usually not possible due to the limitation of your knee, your physician may suggest reducing your weight through a change in diet. Reducing your fat, carbohydrate and caloric intake may be enough to reduce some of the weight so that your physician can perform the surgery. Once you have recovered from the procedure, you can slowly begin to exercise, which will help to reduce your weight and improve your chances of a positive outcome.
Complications
According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, implant failure may occur if you are overweight or obese. This can lead to instability of the implant and may cause you to fall or lose function of the knee. In this case, additional surgery may be necessary to correct the problem. The Hospital for Special Surgery says that if you undergo a revision surgery, you can expect this to take longer -- at least two to three hours -- and be more invasive. Bone grafts may be necessary if there has been extensive bone loss.
