Is bariatric surgery effective in the treatment of the neurological motor deficit syndromes?

BACKGROUND: Persons who suffer from neurological motor deficit syndromes, such as multiple sclerosis, postpolio syndrome, cerebral palsy, myotonia or stroke, are at a particular disadvantage if they are also morbidly obese. There appears to be little in the medical literature describing the role of bariatric surgery and the management of these conditions.
METHODS: We offer our experience with six such patients. All had variations of the gastric bypass procedure.
RESULTS: Weight loss was quite good, in comparison to other morbidly obese patients. All six noted improved function, usually dramatically improved.
CONCLUSIONS: Long-term weight maintenance and functional improvement cannot be assessed in this group of patients. One should expect difficulty in making a long-term assessment in the presence of a progressing debilitating disease. Short-term results were good, and we believe that bariatric surgery should be offered to these patients on an individual basis.