OBJECTIVES: Given the small amount of information regarding the pathological and degenerative changes of the spine, this study was carried out in order to evaluate and quantify the angular values of sagittal balance in the obese population. METHODS: We measured the angles of pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic version (PV) and sacral slope (SS). RESULTS: We evaluated 30 patients, 19 females and 11 males, in 2012, who were to be submitted tobariatric surgery. The mean age was 33 years old. The mean BMI was 41 kg/m², the mean value for men being 43 kg/m² and 39 kg/m² for women. The mean PI was 57°. The PV was 19°. The DS was 38°. The value of pelvic incidence and pelvic version was on average higher than those found in people with normal body mass index. Regarding the sacral slope the value were the same of those of the normal population. CONCLUSIONS: Increasingly the sagittal balance has gained importance in the evaluation of the spine. It is necessary further literature and increasing medical knowledge of diseases and comorbidities that may alter sagittal balance in patients, such as obesity.
Obesity; Postural balance; Posture; Pelvis; Body mass index
