J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  1998 Nov;5(2):193-197.

Effect of Obesity on the Outcome of Lumbar Spine Surgery

• Suk KS
• Kim NH
• Lee HM
• Kamg YH

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed in obese and nonobese patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery.
OBJECTIVES
To report perioperative complications and surgical outcomes in obese patients who underwent lumbar surgery compared with a similar consecutive control group to determine whether obesity is a predictor of poor outcome as well as a factor associated with perioperative complications in lumbar spine surgery. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Perioperatiye challenges in managing the obese patient include anesthesia considerations related to impaired preoperative cardiac and respiratory function, technical difficulties associated with incubation, positioning, and gaining venous and arterial access for monitoring and administering medications. Obesity has also been implicated in delayed wound healing and thrombophlebitis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One hundred twenty seven patients with spondylolisthesis treated with decompression and fusion were retrospectively evaluated. Forty four patients were obese and remaing eighty three patients were nonobese. The operation time, amount of transfusion, duration of hospital stay and clinical outcomes were studied.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the obese and control groups in terms of duration of surgery (224 versus 200 min), amount of transfusion (2.6 versus 2.2 pint), duration of hospital stay (21.3 versus 19.7 days), and symptom improvement (74fo versus 73fo).
CONCLUSIONS
Obesity is not a predictor of poor outcome as well as a factor associated with high perioperative complication rate in lumbar spine surgery.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Decompression
Humans
Length of Stay
Obesity*
Retrospective Studies
Spine*
Spondylolisthesis
Thrombophlebitis
Wound Healing