A Literature Review and Summary Recommendations of the Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Orthopedic Outcomes

Many surgeons recommend weight loss in preparation for orthopedic procedures, yet the impact of surgically induced weight loss before orthopedic procedures is not clear. We undertook a literature review to assess the impact of bariatric surgery on the outcomes of total joint arthroplasty (TJA). We searched PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies (2010–2017) that evaluated the associations between obesity, bariatric surgery, and orthopedic surgery. Nine studies found that prior bariatric surgery decreased major and minor post-operative complications, operating room (OR) time, length of stay (LOS), risk of re-operation, and 90-day re-admissions after TJA. Two studies found that bariatric surgery patients had a higher reoperation rate for stiffness and infection as well as need for revision within 90 days after TJA. One meta-analysis found no statistically significant differences in wound infections, revisions, or mortality irrespective of bariatric surgery status; and another meta-analysis showed reduced medical complications, LOS, and OR time. Our review highlights many gaps in our knowledge and the need for additional studies to define the impact of the bariatric-first approach on TJA outcomes. We propose a framework from lessons learned to raise awareness of medical and surgical options of weight management before elective orthopedic operations in patients with obesity.