Document Classification

Section Type: RESULTS

Text: At the time of the four-year follow-up evaluation, improvements over baseline in primary outcome measures were significantly less for obese patients as compared with nonobese patients in both the operative treatment group (Short Form-36 physical function, 37. 3 compared with 47. 7 points [p < 0. 001], Short Form-36 bodily pain, 44. 2 compared with 50. 0 points [p = 0. 005], and Oswestry Disability Index, -33. 7 compared with -40. 1 points [p < 0. 001]) and the nonoperative treatment group (Short Form-36 physical function, 23. 1 compared with 32. 0 points [p < 0. 001] and Oswestry Disability Index, -21. 4 compared with -26. 1 points [p < 0. 001]).