Pre-operative obesity does not predict poorer symptom control and quality of life after lumbar disc surgery

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to determine whether there was a difference in post-operative symptomatic control and quality of life (QoL) between patients who were obese (BMI >30) and non-obese (BMI <30) pre-operatively. This information may inform the decision making of Physicians and patients whether to proceed to surgery for management of symptomatic lumbar disc prolapse.

Methods: We conducted a prospective questionnaire-based study of QoL and symptom control in 120 patients with postal follow-up at 3 and 12 months after lumbar disc surgery. This study was conducted in two United Kingdom regional neurosurgical units, with ethical approval from the North of Scotland Research Ethics Service (09/S0801/7).

Results: 120 patients were recruited; 37 (34.5%) were obese. Follow up was 71% at 3 months and 57% at 12 months. At recruitment, both obese and non-obese patient groups had similar functional status and pain scores. At 3 and 12 months, non-obese and obese patients reported similar and significant benefits from surgery (e.g. 12 month SF-36 80.5 vs. 68.8, respectively). In non-obese and obese patients, time to return to work was 47.5 days and 53.8 days, respectively, (p = .345). After 12 months all QoL scores were significantly improved from pre-operative levels in both groups.

Conclusions: Obese patients derive significant benefit from lumbar discectomy that it is similar to the benefit experienced by non-obese patients. Obese individuals may achieve excellent results from discectomy and these patients should not be refused surgery on the basis of BMI alone.

Keywords:

• Obesity
• discectomy
• outcome assessment

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest concerning the materials or methods used in this study, or the findings specified in this paper.

Ethical approval

This study obtained ethical approval from the North of Scotland Research Ethics Service (09/S0801/7). All participants gave informed consent before taking part.

Additional information

Funding

None. No funding was received in support of this project.