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Study Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective.

To compare short-and long-term outcomes in obese versus nonobese patients undergoing instrumented posterolateral fusion of the lumbar spine.

Summary of Background Data.

Obesity is an important public health issue due to the negative effects on quality of life. Some studies have shown an association between obesity and higher rates of complications and unfavorable outcomes after spine surgery.

Methods.

We retrospectively reviewed medical records for all adult patients undergoing 1-to 3-level posterolateral fusion for degenerative spine disease between 1992 and 2012 at a single institution. Patients were divided into obese (body mass index> 30 kg/m 2) and nonobese cohorts to compare complications, reoperation rates, and symptom resolution at the last follow-up. A regression model was used to estimate relative risk ratios.

Results.

During the study period …