Obesity relation with degenerative lumbar disease

Objective: To investigate the relationship between degenerative lumbar diseases and obesity, the relationship between intervertebral disc degeneration and BMI (Body Mass Index) was determined as the subject of the research. Since obesity causes changes in body fat tissue composition, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between BMI and fat tissue composition at the lumbar level and intervertebral disc degeneration. Since obesity is associated with abdominal diameter and waist circumference, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between these parameters and intervertebral disc degeneration. It was also aimed to investigate the relationship between the need for surgical treatment in degenerative lumbar diseases and BMI, disc degeneration and adipose tissue composition. Materials and Methods: Retrospectively, age, gender, BMI data of 225 patients and Pfirrmann, Goutiels, Modic type changes in lumbar MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), subcutaneous fat tissue thicknesses, anterior and posterior epidural fat thickness, abdominal diameter and sagittal abdominal parameters 176 patients constituted the outpatient group and 49 patients constituted the operated group. SPSS statistics 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: There was a low level of positive correlation between BMI and disc degeneration and radiological fat tissue parameters. A high level of positive correlation was obtained for the degree of intramuscular infiltration between disc degeneration and radiological adipose tissue parameters and a low level of positive correlation for the others. BMI and disc degeneration severity were found to be greater and significant in those who needed surgical treatment. Conclusion: With an increase in BMI, an increase in the severity of intervertebral disc degeneration and an increase in intramuscular fat infiltration, subcutaneous fat tissue thickness, and waist circumference may occur in degenerative lumbar diseases. In degenerative lumbar diseases, an increase in the severity of intervertebral disc degeneration is expected to be associated with an increase in intramuscular fat infiltration, subcutaneous fat tissue thickness and waist circumference. It can be said that these changes may occur independently of age and gender. It can be said that the surgical treatment method in degenerative lumbar diseases comes to the fore more with increasing BMI values. It should be taken into account that there may be a need for surgical treatment in BMI values of approximately 27kg/m2. It should be expected that surgical treatment will be needed as the severity of L4-5 and L5-S1 intervertebral disc degeneration increases in patients. Keywords: Disc degeneration, Obesity, Pfirrmann, BMI