Impact of morbid obesity (BMI 40 kg/m

The negative effects of obesity on the health and quality of life of those afflicted has become an important public concern. Previous studies have shown an association between obesity and higher rates of complications and unfavorable outcomes following spine surgery. This study is to identify peri- and postoperative complication rates as well as short-term and long-term outcomes in morbidly obese patients who underwent minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) in comparison to age-matched normal-weight patients.We retrospectively reviewed medical records for all adult patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥40 kg/mWe identified 14 patients with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/mMIS TLIF is technically feasible in morbidly obese patients with no evidence of higher complication rates among this demographic compared to normal-weight individuals when followed-up in the short-term (30 days); however, available long-term follow-up data suggest a higher complication rate, greater need for analgesics and a much lower reduction of lower back pain in the morbidly obese group.