Postpanniculectomy Improvement in Low Back Pain: A Case Report.
Lauren Marquette1, Marc Skylsen1
1Section of Plastic Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Plastic Surgery (Oakville, Ont.)
|December 11, 2024
Summary
Panniculectomy, a surgery for removing excess abdominal skin, may unexpectedly alleviate chronic low back pain and radiculopathy. This case study suggests a potential new therapeutic role for panniculectomy beyond cosmetic enhancement.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Pain Management
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Panniculectomy is primarily cosmetic but shows potential for treating low back pain.
- Chronic low back pain and radiculopathy significantly impact quality of life.
- Previous spinal surgeries and conservative treatments were ineffective for the patient.
Observation:
- A 69-year-old man with a large pannus, post-bariatric surgery, sought panniculectomy for aesthetics.
- The patient experienced over a decade of severe low back pain and radiculopathy.
- He had undergone multiple spinal decompression surgeries without relief.
Findings:
- An uncomplicated panniculectomy was performed.
- Post-operatively, the patient reported a significant reduction in low back pain and radiculopathy.
- Pain levels decreased from 7/10 to 1-2/10 within one month.
Implications:
- Panniculectomy may offer an unintended benefit for chronic low back pain in massive weight loss patients.
- Further research is warranted to explore panniculectomy as a treatment for low back pain.
- This highlights a potential non-surgical benefit of panniculectomy in specific patient populations.
