Abstract
Purpose
Weight loss is often advised to our patients and considered to make a substantial difference in most musculoskeletal symptoms. Patients with end stage ankle arthrosis have severe pain, diminished health related quality of life, and limited physical function.
They frequently refer to increased weight as a simple indicator of decline in their quality loose weight. Patients assume that weight loss will follow after surgery secondary to increased activity with reduced pain and disability.
Method
Changes in the body mass index, mental and physical component of SF36 and Ankle Scale Osteoarthritis of 145 overweight and obese patients after ankle surgery were assessed up to five year after surgery with a mean of 37.1 month follow up from 2002 to 2009.
Results
The Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale and Physical component of SF36 significantly improved, by a mean of 34.8, 9.8, respectively after ankle surgery but there was not significant change in Body mass index.
Conclusion
Pain and disability of end stage ankle arthritis usually resolve gradually within one and two year after surgery but body mass index changes was insignificant in five year period.
In fact following successful ankle fusion or replacement, 1/3 of our patients gained 1 unit BMI or more, 1/3 lost one unit BMI or more and 1/3 remained within one unit of their pre op BMI. This suggests that obesity is a multifactorial and an independent disease.
