Laparoscopic gastric band (LAGB) surgery results in a significant reduction of knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain, especially in younger patients and those without prior knee injury or other involved joints, according to a recent study. Researchers reviewed bariatric surgery records (2002–2015) of patients who reported preoperative knee pain. Patients were asked to rate their knee pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst) before and after bariatric surgery. They were also asked about knee injuries and surgeries, presence of OA in other joints, and family history of OA. Of 125 bariatric patients reporting knee pain, 120 patients who had LAGB surgery were analyzed. Researchers found:

• There was no significant relationship between preoperative body mass index (BMI) and knee pain reduction at 1 year post-LAGB, but the subgroup with the most BMI improvement at 1 year post-LAGB had the most knee improvement.
• There was a significant difference in pain reduction in younger patients at 1 year post-LAGB.
• Those with prior knee injuries improved less at 1 year post-LAGB than did those who were injury-free, but having prior knee surgeries was not similarly significant.