The Surprising Effect of Body Mass Index on Elective Orthopedic Surgeries

Elective orthopedic surgeries are often deferred or declined due to concern about the patient's elevated body mass index (BMI). The study team conducted a literature review of studies focusing on the relationship between BMI and outcomes of elective orthopedic surgical procedures. The literature review found that overweight and obese patients have similar gains in function and pain reduction as do patients with normal weight, with adverse perioperative outcomes more evident in the higher levels of obesity. These data suggest a need to review the current policies concerning surgical eligibility based on BMI. These data suggest that restrictions of surgical procedures based on BMI may be too restrictive and should be revised based on the current literature.