Introduction:

Degenerative lumbar stenosis alters quality of life and decreases functional capacity in older adults. Obesity represents a current global health problem.

Objective:

To detail the effects of obesity on surgical risk, postoperative complication rates, and functional outcomes in older patients undergoing elective surgery for degenerative lumbar stenosis.

Methods:

Prospective-descriptive study with elderly patients who underwent surgery for a diagnosis of degenerative lumbar stenosis, who were evaluated one year later.

Results:

Fifty-five patients, 23 obese, 32 non-obese; sex ratio 1.5:1 male-female, higher number of intervened spaces, surgical time and blood loss in obese subjects. The obese patients showed higher number of post-surgical complications and less good functional results.

Conclusions:

Obesity constitutes a higher surgical risk, even when the difference in clinical results is not very important, it causes longer interventions and higher incidence of surgical complications.

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