A new study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine examines how obesity affects outcomes for spinal deformity patients.
The researchers examined 241 patients with adult spinal deformity who underwent surgery and recorded patient-reported outcomes. There were 175 non-obese patients and 66 obese patients. The researchers found:
1. There was a higher incidence of major complications and wound infections for obese patients.
2. Obesity didn't increase minor complications, radiographic complications, neurological complications or revision surgery.
3. The operating room time, length of stay and estimated blood loss were similar between the obese and non-obese patients.
4. Both patient groups reported significant improvement overtime for the Oswestry Disability Index scores and Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire. But obese patients had a lower magnitude of improvement.
5. The obese patients had a lower improvement rate over time.
"Despite these increased complications, obese patients do benefit from surgical intervention; however, their improvement in health-related quality of life is less than that of non-obese patients," concluded the study authors.