A Comparative Cohort Study of Lumbar Microdiscectomy in Obese and Nonobese Patients

We found good postoperative pain relief in both groups. There was no difference in radicular leg pain between obese and nonobese patients but total pain due to lumbago was greater preoperatively and postoperatively in the obese group making their total pain greater. There was no evidence of higher serious complication rate that would preclude offering operative lumbar microdiscectomy to obese patients due to their obesity alone. However, operative duration was significantly longer in obese patients and should be considered accordingly.