BMI Does Not Affect Complications or Patient Reported Outcomes After Lumbar Decompression Surgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spine Surgery

Background:

• The impact of body mass index (BMI) on outcomes following lumbar decompression surgery is not well-defined in current literature.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for patient counseling and surgical planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of preoperative body mass index (BMI) on postsurgical complications and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after lumbar decompression surgery.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective comparative review of 195 patients undergoing 1- to 3-level lumbar decompression surgery.
• Patients were stratified into four BMI groups (Class I: <25.0 kg/m², Class II: 25.0-29.9 kg/m², Class III: 30.0-34.9 kg/m², Class IV: >35.0 kg/m²).
• Outcomes including PROMs, recovery ratio, minimum clinically important difference achievement, and complication rates were analyzed using multiple linear regression.

Main Results:

• All BMI groups showed significant improvement in outcomes, except for Class III and IV patients in Mental Component Score (MCS-12).
• No significant differences were observed between BMI groups for baseline or postoperative PROMs, recovery ratio, or achievement of minimum clinically important difference.
• BMI was not identified as a significant predictor of outcome changes; 30-day readmission and revision rates did not differ significantly across groups.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative body mass index (BMI) does not appear to significantly influence 1-year complications or patient-reported outcomes following lumbar decompression surgery.
• These findings suggest that BMI may not be a critical factor in determining surgical success or complication risk in this patient population.