Complications of Spine Surgery in "Super Obese" Patients

Retrospective chart review with matched control.

To evaluate the indications and complications of spine surgery on super obese patients.

A retrospective review assessed super obese patients undergoing spine surgery at a level-1 trauma and spine referral center from 2012 to 2016. Outcomes were compared to age-matched controls with body mass index (BMI) <50 kg/m². The control group was further subdivided into patients with BMI <30 kg/m² (normal) and BMI between 30 and 50 kg/m² (obese).

Sixty-three super obese patients undergoing 86 surgeries were identified. Sixty patients (78 surgeries) were in the control group. Age and number of elective versus nonelective cases were not significantly different. Mean BMI of the super obese group was 55 kg/m² (range 50-77 kg/m²) versus 29 kg/m² in the controls (range 20-49 kg/m²). Fifty-two percent of surgeries were elective, and the most common indication was degenerative disease (39%). Compared with controls, super obese patients had a higher complication rate (30% [n = 19] vs 10% [N = 6], P = .0055) but similar 30-day mortality rate (5% vs 5%), a finding that was upheld when comparing super obese with each of the control group stratifications (BMI 30-50 and BMI <30 kg/m²). The most common complication among super obese patients was wound dehiscence/infection (n = 8, 13%); 2 patients' surgeries were aborted. Complication rates for elective surgery were 21% (n = 7) for super obese patients and 4% (n = 1) for controls (P = .121); complication rates for nonelective procedures were 40% (n = 12) and 14% (n = 5), respectively (P = .023).

The complication rate of spine surgery in super obese patients (BMI ≥ 50 kg/m²) is significantly higher than other patients, particularly for nonelective cases.