Should Body Mass Index Be Considered a Hard Stop for Total Joint Replacement?: An Ethical Dilemma.

Bonanni, Sean; Chang, Kevin C; Scuderi, Giles R · Orthop Clin North Am · 2025

review · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States and is a durable and effective option in managing osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Recent research regarding the procedure has focused on preoperative optimization and weight loss in particular. Obesity has been shown in prior studies to increase risks associated with TJA, and, as a result, debate has focused on whether a body mass index (BMI) cutoff is a prudent tool for preoperative optimization. This article discusses the ethical dilemma of instituting a BMI cutoff and reviews current literature regarding the topic.

Medical subject headings

Anatomy