Impact of BMI on two-year clinical outcomes following surgical treatment of insertional achilles tendinopathy.

INTRODUCTION

Higher body mass index (BMI) may increase complications and poor outcomes surgery for insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) but its exact impact remains unclear.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 75 unilateral IAT surgery patients was performed, and patients were categorised into normal (< 30 kg/m2, n = 47) and obese BMI (≥ 30 kg/m2, n = 28) groups. Clinical outcomes were assessed preoperatively, at 6-months and 2-years postoperatively using AOFAS hindfoot, VAS pain, SF-36 physical and mental scores, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Both groups showed significant improvement in all measures with no significant differences between the two groups. Both groups achieved similar final postoperative scores at 2 years. Wound complications were higher in the obese group (n = 2 vs 1, 7.1% vs 2.1%) but was not statistically significant (p = 0.284). Postoperative satisfaction (p = 0.394) was comparable.

CONCLUSION

Obese patients can achieve outcomes comparable to those with normal BMI following IAT surgery.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.