Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40106163›Full record

SynthesisSpine deformity2025

Does an increased preoperative body mass index (BMI) affect adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery outcomes and complications? A meta-analysis.

Ralph Maroun, Mohammad Daher, Bshara Sleem, Joseph E Nassar, Manjot Singh, Sarah L Criddle, Bassel G Diebo, Amer Sebaaly, Alan H Daniels

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Spine deformity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ralph MarounDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Mohammad DaherDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 1 Kettle Point Ave, East Providence, RI, 02914, USA.
Bshara SleemDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Joseph E NassarDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 1 Kettle Point Ave, East Providence, RI, 02914, USA.
Manjot SinghDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 1 Kettle Point Ave, East Providence, RI, 02914, USA.
Sarah L CriddleDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 1 Kettle Point Ave, East Providence, RI, 02914, USA.
Bassel G DieboDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 1 Kettle Point Ave, East Providence, RI, 02914, USA.
Amer SebaalyDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon.
Alan H DanielsDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 1 Kettle Point Ave, East Providence, RI, 02914, USA. alandanielsmd@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9597-4139

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAdolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of scoliosis. With obesity reaching unprecedented levels in adolescents, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis examining the impact of increased Body Mass Index (BMI) on AIS corrective surgery.

methodsCochrane, PubMed, and Google Scholar (pages 1-20) were searched up to July 2024. The inclusion criteria consisted of studies comparing increased BMI patients with patients having a normal BMI (BMI < 25 OR < 85th percentile) in the setting of corrective surgery for AIS. Investigations consisting of non-comparative studies, or studies with non-relevant outcomes were excluded.

resultsTwelve retrospective studies met inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. There were significantly fewer complications (OR = 0.44, p = 0.002), readmissions (OR = 0.39, p = 0.05), and wound-related complications (OR = 0.32, p = 0.005) in patients with normal BMI. In addition, the patients with normal BMI had a shorter operative time (MD = - 15.43, p = 0.005) as well as a smaller pre- and post-operative major curve (MD = - 1.54; p = 0.01, MD = - 2.45; p = 0.002) and thoracic kyphosis (MD = - 4.87; p < .001, MD = - 2.67; p < .001).

conclusionPatients undergoing AIS surgery with an increased preoperative BMI may be associated with less favorable outcomes. Although the elevated BMI alone may be the cause of the increased complications in some patients, obese patients also presented with larger curves and more kyphosis, thus potentially explaining an additional contributor to the increased complication rate. Curves may be less noticeable in obese patients as compared to normal weight patients, thus delayed diagnosis may be occurring. Optimized scoliosis screening in obese patients, and also studies assessing the benefits of preoperative weight management in AIS surgery are needed.

Indexed as

Body Mass IndexPostoperative ComplicationsScoliosisAdolescentFemaleHumansMaleOperative TimePreoperative PeriodRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAdolescent idiopathic scoliosisBody mass indexComplicationsObesityOutcomes

Identifiers

PMID40106163

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.