title: Deciphering the crystal ball in spine care: can preoperative patient variables predict postoperative functional outcomes and risks?
abstract: Meredith DS, Huang RC, Nguyen J, Lyman S. Obesity increases the risk of recurrent herniated nucleus pulposus after lumbar microdiscectomy. Spine J 2010;10:575-580 (in this issue). Yadla S, Malone J, Campbell PG, et al. Obesity and spine surgery: reassessment based on a prospective evaluation of perioperative complications in elective degenerative thoracolumbar procedures. Spine J 2010;10:581-587 (in this issue).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. william.abdu@hitchcock.org
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abdu
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*