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- Talk
- 15/09/2021
- Canada
The Influence of Obesity on the Surgical Outcomes of Decompression and Fusion for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Degenerative Disc Disease
Description
In this presentation, Mathieu Benoit, an orthopedic resident at Memorial University of Newfoundland, discusses his research on how obesity impacts surgical outcomes for lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease. Since obesity is a significant health concern in Newfoundland and Labrador, which leads to various co-morbidities, the study aims to determine its effect on surgical results. Benoit outlines the potential surgical techniques employed, including decompression and fusion methods, and highlights the debate around whether obese patients experience the same outcomes as non-obese patients following surgery.
Benoit explains the methods used for the study, a retrospective cohort analysis, utilizing data from the Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network, focusing on low back pain, leg pain, quality of life, and self-perceived health ratings. After excluding patients based on specific criteria, the study involved 71 participants divided into obese and non-obese groups based on BMI.
The findings indicate that all patients generally improved in pain, function, and quality of life, with some exceptions. Non-obese patients showed more significant improvement in back and leg pain at 3 and 12 months, while surgery duration and estimated blood loss were consistent across both groups. In conclusion, while there was clinical improvement for all patients, non-obese patients tended to recover better than their obese counterparts. The presentation suggests further research is needed to explore these findings in detail.