Benefits of bariatric surgery on spinal epidural lipomatosis: case report and literature review

• Published in: European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology Vol. 28; no. 7; pp. 1437 - 1440
• Main Authors: Valcarenghi, J., Bath, O., Boghal, H., Ruelle, M., Lambert, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.10.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Back Pain - etiology; Case reports; Chronic Pain - etiology; Epidural Space; Gastrointestinal surgery; Gastroplasty; Humans; Lipomatosis - diagnostic imaging; Lipomatosis - etiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - surgery; Spinal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Neoplasms - etiology; Surgical Orthopedics; Traumatic Surgery; Up-to date Review and Case Report • SPINE - LUMBAR; Spinal; Epidural; Obesity; Lipomatosis
• ISSN: 1633-8065; 1432-1068
• DOI: 10.1007/s00590-018-2206-y

Spinal epidural lipomatosis is an abnormal accumulation of unencapsulated epidural fat causing compression of the neural elements. It can be divided into idiopathic and secondary. Secondary is often associated with chronic steroid use and endocrinopathies. Idiopathic has been associated with obesity. We report a 48-year-old man with obesity and a history of chronic back pain who developed idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, which subsequently resolved completely after sleeve gastroplasty over a 6-month follow-up period.