Overweight increases perioperative spinal surgery complications: a single-center retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Surgical Outcomes
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Overweight, defined by a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m², is a growing public health concern linked to lifestyle factors.
• The impact of overweight on perioperative complications in orthopedic surgery, particularly spinal surgery, remains under-researched.
• Understanding these risks is crucial for optimizing patient care and surgical planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between overweight status and perioperative complications in patients undergoing spinal surgery.
• To compare surgical outcomes, including duration, blood loss, and complication rates, between overweight and non-overweight patient groups.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case series analysis of 269 patients who underwent spinal surgery.
• Patients were categorized into overweight (OW) and non-overweight (NOW) groups based on BMI.
• Key metrics evaluated included age, BMI, surgical time, blood loss, and perioperative complications.

Main Results:

• The overweight group (117 patients) exhibited significantly longer surgical times (204.6 min vs. 175 min) and greater blood loss (446.8 mL vs. 279 mL) compared to the non-overweight group (152 patients).
• Durotomy occurred more frequently in the overweight group (10 cases) than in the non-overweight group (3 cases).
• No significant differences in other perioperative complications were observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Overweight is associated with increased surgical time, blood loss, and a higher risk of durotomy during spinal surgery.
• These findings suggest that overweight status is a significant risk factor contributing to perioperative complications in spinal procedures.
• Further research may explore strategies to mitigate these risks in overweight patients undergoing spinal surgery.