Obesity in lumbar spine surgery

Abstract

Obesity has been shown to be a significant factor in the development of musculoskeletal disease. In particular, there has been a recent increase in interest in the role of obesity in lumbar spine disease and surgical outcomes for lumbar spine pathology. Obese individuals are more likely to develop both clinical and radiographic evidence of degenerative lumbar spine disease. Weight loss, whether in the form of diet and exercise regimens or bariatric surgery, may provide some improvement in clinical lumbar spine complaints. In situations in which surgery is necessary to treat degenerative lumbar spine conditions, obese patients experience improvement but less so compared to nonobese patient. Obese patients may be more likely to develop perioperative and postoperative complications.