Researchers analyzed obesity's impact on lumbar spinal fusion patients, according to a Spine study. The study investigated one-year follow-up data of 805 patients. Of these patients, 204 were normal weight, 365 were overweight and 236 were obese.
Here are five observations:
1. At the one-year follow-up, normal weight patients saw a -25 change in the Oswestry Disability Index; overweight patients saw a -24 change in ODI; and obese patients saw a -23 change in ODI.
2. About 14 percent of normal weight patients experienced severe disability; 17 percent of overweight patients experienced severe disability; and about 24 percent of obese patients experienced severe disability.
3. The normal weight patients experienced more improvement in back and leg pain compared to the overweight and obese groups.
4. The study found lumbar spine fusion is effective in normal, overweight and obese patients.
5. The researchers concluded obese patients experience mildly worse outcomes than patients with normal weight, one year post-lumbar spine fusion.