Obesity and Knee Disorders

Obesity is a potentially modifiable risk factor that results in increased joint stress and load forces on the knee. This, in turn, can predispose patients to bony and soft-tissue injuries. Importantly, obesity can mask diagnoses and clinicians must be aware of certain considerations when managing the obese patient. Furthermore, obesity and its commonly associated comorbidities can result in a more technically challenging surgery and have a negative impact on patient outcomes following management. This chapter provides a broad overview of the impact of obesity on meniscal tears, tibial plateau fractures, knee dislocation, anterior knee pain, and osteoarthritis.