Post-panniculectomy improvement in low back pain: A Case Report

Abstract While abdominoplasty is traditionally considered a cosmetic surgery, there has been growing interest in the potential role of abdominoplasty for the treatment of low back pain. We present a case of a 69 year old man with a history of over 10 years of significant low back pain with radiculopathy resistant to various conservative measures as well as multiple surgeries for spinal decompression. Fourteen years after bariatric surgery and having maintained a stable BMI, he presented with a large pannus desiring abdominoplasty for aesthetic reasons. He underwent an abdominoplasty with panniculectomy only which was uncomplicated. As an unintended benefit of his procedure, he reported on his one month post op visit that he had near resolution of his low back pain and radiculopathy. He had rated his pre-op back pain as 7/10 and reported that it now had been reduced to 1-2/10. More research needs to be done to assess the potential of abdominoplasty as a treatment for low back pain in patients with massive weight loss.