Bariatric Surgery Before Elective Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) in Obese Patients Is Associated With Reduced Risk of 90-Day Postoperative Complications and Readmissions

This was a national database study.The objective of this study was to assess the impact of prior bariatric surgery (BS) on altering 90-day postoperative outcomes following elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusions (ACDFs).Though obesity has previously been shown to be linked with adverse outcomes following elective spine surgical procedures, the effectiveness of weight-loss strategies such as BS has not been explored.The PearlDiver program was used to query the 2007-2013 100% Medicare Standard Analytical Files (SAF100) for patients undergoing an elective ACDF. The study cohort was divided into 2 groups-(1) obese ACDF patients (body mass index ≥35 kg/m 2 ) receiving a BS procedure within 2 years before an ACDF and (2) obese ACDF patients (body mass index ≥35 kg/m 2 ) without a known history of a BS procedure within the last 2 years. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the impact of a BS procedure on postoperative outcomes following ACDF while adjusting for age, sex, region, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index.A total of 411 ACDF patients underwent BS within the 2 years before an ACDF. Multivariate analysis showed that undergoing BS before an elective ACDF was associated with a significantly reduced risk of pulmonary complications [odds ratio (OR)=0.53; P =0.002], cardiac complications (OR=0.69; P =0.012), sepsis (OR=0.69; P =0.035), renal complications (OR=0.54; P =0.044), and 90-day readmissions (OR=0.53; P =0.015).Surgery-induced weight loss before an ACDF in obese patients is associated with reduced 90-day complication and readmission rates. Orthopaedic and bariatric surgeons should counsel obese patients on the benefits of BS following ACDFs.