Obesity and Spine Surgery

Posted on February 12, 2019 | by Dr. Shim

Obesity and Spine Surgery is a sensitive issue. The March 1 issue of Spine does tackle this issue by comparing the results of surgery for obese patients to normal weight patients. Not surprisingly, the results do show a difference, with patients in the obese catagory having inferior rates of success compared to the normal weight patients.

The good new, however, is that Obesity and Spine Surgery can still yield improvements to the patients. But, a higher BMI (body mass index= Weight in kilograms/ height in meters squared) was associated with greater odds of dissatisfaction after surgery, and according to the study, inferior results at the 2 year followup.

Overall satisfaction of surgery at 2 years, was 67% for normal weight patients (BMI<25). 64% in over weight patients (BMI 25-30), and 57% of patients who are considered obese (BMI>30). Statistically, there was a definite difference in the outcome comparing the normal weight to the obese patients.

Surgical intervention was for patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. Data was from the Swedish Spine Registry, with more than 80% of the total surgical procedures for degenerative lumbar disorders included. The population includes 2633 patients. The study was not clear about the exact nature of the surgery, but surgical interventions most likely are laminectomies, with some fusions.

The whole concept of Obesity and Spine Surgery is controversial. While we think it is common sense that Obesity would be associated with increasing low back pain, the data has been conflicting. Not every study has demonstrated this correlation.

The authors of the study does discuss some of the short comings of the study. But, concludes obesity is a factor when trying to stratify a patient population that might benefit from Lumbar Spinal Surgery. The study actually does not demonstrate a great overall success rate for any of the lumbar surgeries, as even in the normal weight group, satisfaction was only 67%.

Still, the study did confirm a common consensus opinion, which is Obesity and Spine Surgery, while at times necessary, can result in inferior success rates for patient satisfaction.