ArticleInternational orthopaedics2023
The effect of subcutaneous fat and skin-to-lamina distance on complications and functional outcomes of minimally invasive lumbar decompression.
Article in International orthopaedics, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Interlaminar versus sublaminar lumbar decompression: a retrospective study on patient satisfaction as measured by PROMIS outcomes.Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) · 2026Article
- Unraveling risk factors for multiple debridements in postoperative spinal infections: insights from a retrospective cohort study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- Comparative analysis of anterior lumbar interbody fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in clinical outcomes: ALIF associated with lower rates of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in a long-term follow-up study.International orthopaedics · 2025Article
- Lumbar fusion efficacy with local bone grafting and platelet-rich plasma: a clinical investigation in treating degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis in the elderly.International orthopaedics · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
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Abstract
purposeMinimally invasive lumbar decompression (MIS) in obese pzatients is technically challenging due to the use of longer tube retractors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the thickness of the soft tissue and subcutaneous fat on complications, revisions, and patient-reported functional outcomes after MIS.
methodsThis is a retrospective analysis of 148 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive lumbar decompression at our institute between 2013 and 2017 and had at least one year of follow-up. Analysis was performed five times, each time the study group was defined by another measure of adiposity: BMI > 30, skin to lamina distance at the site of surgery and at L4 > 6 cm, and subcutaneous fat thickness at the site of surgery and at L4 > 3 cm. Outcomes included intraoperative complications (durotomy or neurological deficit), possibly inadequate decompression (residual disc, reoperation), length of stay, return to the emergency room or readmission, postoperative medical complications, and functional outcomes: visual analog scores for back and leg pain, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
resultsPatients with a thicker layer soft tissue had a significantly higher burden of comorbidities than controls, including higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (p = 0.002), diabetes (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001) and higher ASA scores (p = 0.002). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference between the patient groups in surgical and medical complications, functional outcomes, and other assessed outcomes.
conclusionOur results indicate that minimally invasive lumbar decompression is safe and effective for patients with a thick layer of soft tissue and subcutaneous fat.
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