Back pain and sagittal spine alignment in obese patients eligible for bariatric surgery.

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate the prevalence of cervical and lumbar pain in obese patients eligible for bariatric surgery and to investigate possible changes in sagittal spine alignment in these patients.

Methods: The following parameters were compared in 30 obese patients and a control group of 25 non-obese volunteers: body mass index, prevalence of cervical and lumbar pain assessed by visual analog scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index [NDI] and Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], as well as radiographic parameters of the spine and pelvis measured with Surgimap software.

Results: The cervical and lumbar VAS and the NDI and ODI were significantly worse in obese patients.

Radiographic evaluation and pain symptomatology of the knee in severely obese individuals - controlled transversal study.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of pain and radiographic degenerative arthritis in a group of severe obese patients (body mass index [BMI] > 35).

Methods: 41 patients with an indication of bariatric surgery were studied. The group of severely obese patients was subdivided into two subgroups: those with BMI < 50 and those with BMI > 50 ( = 14).