Overweight and obese patients have increased risk for complication when compared with normal weight patients, according to a study published in Spine.
The researchers examined 24,196 patients who underwent elective lumbar spine surgery between 2006 and 2011, with 19,195 who were overweight or obese. Data was gathered from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The researchers found:
• Overweight patients had an increased risk for deep vein thrombosis, which was compounded for the subsequent obesity classes.
• Superficial wound infection risk increased with class 1 obesity cohort.
• Pulmonary embolism increased beginning with the class 1 obesity cohort.
• Urinary tract infection relative risk increased only among class 3 obesity patients.
• Acute renal failure and sepsis increased only among class 3 obesity patients.
• No relative risk increase in 30-day mortality in any cohort after lumbar spine surgery.
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