SynthesisArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2023
Effect of obesity on results of endoscopic versus open lumbar discectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparative outcomes of obese and non-obese patients with lumbar disc herniation receiving full endoscopic transforaminal discectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Pooled it
- Endoscopic spine surgery.Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Disease (2013) · 2026Review
- Clinical outcomes of unilateral biportal endoscopic discectomy vs. microdiscectomy in lumbar disc herniation.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Does obesity affect outcomes or complications in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation after open lumbar microdiscectomy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Brain & spine · 2026Review
- Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Discectomy (UBE) Versus Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy (PELD) for Treating Lumbar Disc Herniation in Obese Patients: A Retrospective Study.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025Article
- Redefining Surgical Boundaries for Obese Patients? Full Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy Proves Equally Effective With Shorter Hospital Stay in Obese Patients.International journal of spine surgery · 2025Article
- Observational
- Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Spine Surgery as a Viable Option for Geriatric Patients with High Anesthetic Risk.Cureus · 2024Article
- Does obesity and varying body mass index affect the clinical outcomes and safety of biportal endoscopic lumbar decompression? A comparative cohort study.Acta neurochirurgica · 2024Article
- Advances and Challenges of Endoscopic Spine Surgery.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- Development and Validation of a Nomogram Predicting Postoperative Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation Based on Activity Factors.Risk management and healthcare policy · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionLumbar disc herniation in obese individuals poses unique surgical challenges which can influence outcomes in such patients. Limited studies are available evaluating the results of discectomy in obese persons. The aim of this review was to compare outcomes in obese and non-obese individuals; and to analyse whether approach to surgery had a bearing on these outcomes.
methodsThe literature search was conducted on four databases (PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and CINAHL) and PRISMA guidelines were followed. After screening by the authors, eight studies were shortlisted from which data were extracted and analysed. Comparative analysis was done for lumbar discectomy (microdiscectomy or minimally invasive vs. endoscopic technique) between obese and non-obese groups from the six comparative studies in our review. Pooled estimates and subgroup analysis was done to ascertain the effect of surgical approach on outcomes.
resultsEight studies published between 2007 and 2021 were included. Mean age of study cohort was 39.05 years. Mean operative time was significantly shorter in the non-obese group mean difference of 15.1 min (95% CI - 0.24 to 30.5). On subgroup analysis, obese individuals operated via endoscopic approach had significantly decreased operative time as compared to open approach. Blood loss and complication rates were also lower in the non-obese groups, but not statistically significant.
conclusionSignificantly less mean operative time was seen in non-obese individuals and when obese patients were operated via endoscopic approach. This difference between obese and non-obese groups was significantly more in the open subgroup as compared to the endoscopic subgroup. No significant differences in blood loss, mean improvement in VAS score, recurrence rate, complication rate and length of hospital stay was found between obese and non-obese patients as well as between endoscopic versus open lumbar discectomy within the obese subgroup. The learning curve associated with endoscopy makes it a challenging procedure.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.