title: Outpatient minimally invasive spine surgery using endoscopy for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis among obese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The safety and effectiveness of outpatient endoscopic minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis among obese patients is not well documented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain, disability, and surgical variables were examined on 41 adult obese patients that underwent lumbar laminotomy and foraminotomy surgeries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in pain and disability scores between preoperative and postoperative were found (p-value's < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MISS using endoscopy can achieve sufficient decompression that results in a significant reduction in the level of pain and disability among obese patients with minimal blood loss and no complications.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Department, Laser Spine Institute, LLC, Florida 33607, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hudak
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Department, Laser Spine Institute, LLC, Florida 33607, United States.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Perry
keywords: Body mass index (BMI); Body weight; Decompression; Disability; Pain