Aims. Tobacco, in addition to being one of the greatest public health threats facing our world, is believed to have deleterious effects on bone metabolism and especially on bone healing. It has been described in the literature that patients who smoke are approximately twice as likely to develop a nonunion following a non-specific bone fracture. For clavicle fractures, this risk is unclear, as is the impact that such a complication might have on the initial management of these fractures. Methods. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed for conservatively treated displaced midshaft clavicle fractures. Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (via Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to 12 May 2022, with supplementary searches in Open Grey, ClinicalTrials.gov, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, and Google Scholar. The searches were performed without limits for publication date or languages. Results. The meta-analysis included eight studies, 2,285 observations, and 304 events (nonunion). The random effects model predicted a pooled risk ratio (RR) of 3.68 (95% confidence interval 1.87 to 7.23), which can be considered significant (p = 0.003). It indicates that smoking more than triples the risk of nonunion when a fracture is treated conservatively. Conclusion. Smoking confers a RR of 3.68 for developing a nonunion in patients with a displaced middle third clavicle fracture treated conservatively. We know that most patients with pseudarthrosis will have pain and a poor functional outcome. Therefore, patients should be informed of the significantly higher risks of nonunion and offered smoking cessation efforts and counselling. Moreover, surgery should be considered for any patient who smokes with this type of fracture. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(7):801–807

Objectives. To review the systemic impact of smoking on bone healing as evidenced within the orthopaedic literature. Methods. A protocol was established and studies were sourced from five electronic databases. Screening, data abstraction and quality assessment was conducted by two review authors. Prospective and retrospective clinical studies were included. The primary outcome measures were based on clinical and/or radiological indicators of bone healing. This review specifically focused on non-spinal orthopaedic studies. Results. Nine tibia studies and eight other orthopaedic studies were considered for systematic review. Of these 17 studies, 13 concluded that smoking negatively influenced bone healing. Conclusions. Smoking has a negative effect on bone healing, in terms of delayed union, nonunion and more complications

Aims. Smoking is associated with post-operative complications but smokers often under-report the amount they smoke. Our objective was to determine whether a urine dipstick test could be used as a substitute for quantitative cotinine assays to determine smoking status in patients. Patients and Methods. Between September 2013 and July 2014 we conducted a prospective cohort study in which 127 consecutive patients undergoing a planned foot and ankle arthrodesis or osteotomy were included. Patients self-reported their smoking status and were classified as: ‘never smoked’ (61 patients), ‘ex-smoker’ (46 patients), or ‘current smoker’ (20 patients). Urine samples were analysed with cotinine assays and cotinine dipstick tests. Results. There was a high degree of concordance between dipstick and assay results (Kappa coefficient = 0.842, p < 0.001). Compared with the quantitative assay, the dipstick had a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 97.3%. Patients claiming to have stopped smoking just before surgery had the highest rate of disagreement between reported smoking status and urine testing. Conclusion. Urine cotinine dipstick testing is cheap, fast, reliable, and easy to use. It may be used in place of a quantitative assay as a screening tool for detecting patients who may be smoking. A positive test may be used as a trigger for further assessment and counselling. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1418–24

Periosteum is important for bone homoeostasis through the release of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and their effect on osteoprogenitor cells. Smoking has an adverse effect on fracture healing and bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking on the expression of the BMPs of human periosteum. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for BMP-2,-4,-6,-7 gene expression in periosteal samples obtained from 45 fractured bones (19 smokers, 26 non-smokers) and 60 non-fractured bones (21 smokers, 39 non-smokers). A hierarchical model of BMP gene expression (BMP-2 > BMP-6 > BMP-4 > BMP-7) was demonstrated in all samples. When smokers and non-smokers were compared, a remarkable reduction in the gene expression of BMP-2, -4 and -6 was noticed in smokers. The comparison of fracture and non-fracture groups demonstrated a higher gene expression of BMP-2, -4 and -7 in the non-fracture samples. Within the subgroups (fracture and non-fracture), BMP gene expression in smokers was either lower but without statistical significance in the majority of BMPs, or similar to that in non-smokers with regard to BMP-4 in fracture and BMP-7 in non-fracture samples. In smokers, BMP gene expression of human periosteum was reduced, demonstrating the effect of smoking at the molecular level by reduction of mRNA transcription of periosteal BMPs. Among the BMPs studied, BMP-2 gene expression was significantly higher, highlighting its role in bone homoeostasis

Aims. We sought to compare functional outcomes and survival between non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers who underwent anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) in a large cohort of patients. Methods. A retrospective review of a prospectively collected shoulder arthroplasty database was performed between August 1991 and September 2020 to identify patients who underwent primary aTSA. Patients were excluded for preoperative diagnoses of fracture, infection, or oncological disease. Three cohorts were created based on smoking status: non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. Outcome scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Constant-Murley score, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), University of California, Los Angeles activity scale (UCLA)), range of motion (external rotation (ER), forward elevation (FE), internal rotation, abduction), and shoulder strength (ER, FE) evaluated at two- to four-year follow-up were compared between cohorts. Evaluation of revision-free survival was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method to final follow-up. Results. We included 428 primary aTSAs with a mean follow-up of 2.4 years (SD 0.6). Our cohort consisted of 251 non-smokers, 138 former smokers who quit a mean 21 years (SD 14) prior to surgery (25 pack-years (SD 22)), and 39 current smokers (23 pack-years (SD 20)). At two- to four-year follow-up, former smokers had less favourable SPADI, SST, and FE strength compared to non-smokers, and current smokers had less favourable SPADI, SST, ASES score, UCLA score, Constant-Murley score, FE, abduction, and ER strength compared to non-smokers. Non-smokers exhibited higher revision-free survival rates at two, five, eight, and ten years postoperatively compared to former smokers and current smokers, who had similar rates. Conclusion. Our study suggests that smoking has a negative effect on aTSA functional outcomes that may persist even after quitting. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(11):1263–1272

Aim. Smoking is known to impair wound healing and to increase the risk of peri-operative adverse events and is associated with orthopaedic infection and fracture non-union. Understanding the magnitude of the causal effect on orthopaedic infection recurrence may improve pre-operative patient counselling. Methods. Four prospectively-collected datasets including 1173 participants treated in European centres between 2003 and 2021, followed up to 12 months after surgery for clinically diagnosed orthopaedic infections, were included in logistic regression modelling with Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting for current smoking status [1–3]. Host factors including age, gender and ASA score were included as potential confounding variables, interacting through surgical treatment as a collider variable in a pre-specified structural causal model informed by clinical experience. The definition of infection recurrence was identical and ascertained separately from baseline factors in three contributing cohorts. A subset of 669 participants with positive histology, microbiology or a sinus at the time of surgery, were analysed separately. Results. Participants were 64% male, with a median age of 60 years (range 18–95); 16% of participants experienced treatment failure by 12 months. 1171 of 1173 participants had current smoking status recorded. As expected for the European population, current smoking was less frequent in older participants (Table 1). There was no baseline association between Charlson score or ASA score and smoking status (p=0.9, p=1, Chi squared test). The estimated adjusted odds ratio for treatment failure at 12 months, resulting from current smoking at the time of surgery, was 1.37 for all participants (95% CI 0.75 to 2.50) and 1.53 for participants with recorded confirmatory criteria (95% CI 1.14 to 6.37). Conclusions. Smoking contributes to infection recurrence, particularly in people with unequivocal evidence of osteomyelitis or PJI. People awaiting surgery for orthopaedic infection should be supported to cease smoking, not only to reduce anaesthetic risk, but to improve treatment outcomes. Limitations of this study include unmeasured socioeconomic confounding and social desirability bias resulting in uncertainty in true smoking status, resulting in underestimated effect size

Introduction: Every ten seconds, somewhere in the world, someone dies of tobacco-related causes. The adverse effects of smoking on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and immune systems have been well documented. Results of foot surgery are also gravely affected by cigarette smoking, with poorer clinical outcomes, lower rates of osteotomy union, bony fusion and higher rates of postoperative infection. However, data on surgeon’s awareness and their practices to overcome the adverse effects of smoking in elective foot surgery is limited. Aim: The purpose of this study was to report the results of a survey of experienced foot and ankle surgeons regarding their awareness about detrimental effects of smoking and the measures they take in their practice to prevent them. Methods: A survey of members of British Foot and Ankle Society was done to document surgeon’s awareness and attitudes towards detrimental effects of smoking in patients undergoing elective foot surgery and the measures they take to prevent these problems. Survey was returned by 104 of the 225 surgeons (47%). Results: One hundred and two (99%) of the surgeons were aware of the damaging effects of smoking in foot and ankle surgery. Eightynine (84%) of these recorded the smoking habits of their patients in their dictated notes. However, only 9% respondent admitted recording the smoking habits of their patients in consent form and warn them about forthcoming risk of complications at the time of consenting. Only twentyfour (23%) had varying protocol’s to prevent smoking related operative complications. Conclusions: Most of the surgeons appreciate the harmful effects of smoking. However they are unaware of the extent to which it causes problems. Majority of the members would like the society to propose a unified policy or evidence based guidelines to deal with smoking related problems in foot surgery

Aim. People awaiting surgery for bone and joint infection may be recommended to stop smoking to improve anaesthetic and surgical outcomes. However, restricting curative surgical treatment to non-smokers on the basis of potentially worse surgical outcomes is not validated for functional outcomes or quality of life differences between patients who do and do not smoke. This study used secondary analysis of trial data to ask: do peri-operative non-smokers have a greater improvement in their quality of life 12 months after surgery for bone and joint infection, compared with non-smokers?. Method. Participants in the SOLARIO and OVIVA clinical trials who had complete baseline and 12 month EQ-5D-5L or EQ-5D-3L scores were included. Smoking status was ascertained at baseline study enrolment from participant self-report. Normalised quality of life scores were calculated for participants at baseline and 12 months, based on contemporaneous health state scores for England. Baseline and 12 month scores were compared to calculate a post-operative increment in quality of life. Results. Mean quality of life increment over 12 months was +0.17 for people who reported smoking peri-operatively (95% confidence interval −0.55 to +0.89), compared to +0.23 for people who did not report smoking peri-operatively (95% confidence interval −0.48 to +0.94). Linear regression analysis found no significant difference between the improvement in quality of life for smokers and non-smokers (p>0.1). Mean increments for both groups were greater than estimates of Minimal Clinically Important Difference in quality of life in musculoskeletal conditions. [1,2]. Conclusions. People who smoke peri-operatively still experience an improvement in quality of life after surgery for orthopaedic infections, commensurate with the improvement experienced by non-smokers. Surgery should not be denied to people on the basis of reported smoking status alone

Patients who are actively smoking at the time of primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are at considerably increased risk of perioperative complications. Therefore, strategies to assist patients with smoking cessation before surgery have become routine practice. A secondary benefit is the theoretical catalyst for long-term smoking cessation. However, questions remain as to whether patients actually cease smoking prior to the procedure, and if so, how long this lasts postoperatively. Our high-volume, academic institution documents self-reported smoking status at each clinic visit (at 6-month intervals), as well as at the time of surgery through a total joint registry. As such, all patients who underwent TJA from 2007 to 2018 were identified and grouped as: non-smokers, smokers (regularly smoking cigarettes within 1 year from surgery), and former smokers (those who quit smoking within a year before surgery). Thereafter, smoking status in the postoperative period was assessed, with special attention to the former smokers in order to see who remained smoke-free. From the 28,758 primary TJAs identified, 91.3% (26,244) were non-smokers, 7.3% (2,109) were smokers, and 1.4% (405) had quit smoking before surgery. Among patients who quit smoking before surgery, only 38% were still abstinent at 9 years from surgery. Conversely, 24% of smokers at the time of surgery eventually quit and 3.1% of non-smokers started smoking over the same time period. Despite a concerted effort to help patients stop smoking before TJA, an important proportion (7.3%) are unsuccessful. Among those patients who do manage to stop smoking, only a minority (38%) remain smoke-free after surgery. Compared to current smokers, patients who managed to quit before surgery are more likely to remain smoke-free after surgery. These findings highlight that smoking remains a tremendous challenge in contemporary TJA practices. Additional strategies targeting smoking cessation before after surgery are needed

Introduction. Although we know that smoking damages health, we do not know impact of smoking on a patient's outcome following primary knee arthroplasty (KA). In the UK, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have the authority (& funds) to commission healthcare services for their communities. Over the past decade, an increasing number of CCGs are using smoking as a contraindication for patients with end-stage symptomatic knee arthritis being referred to a specialist for due consideration of KA without any clear evidence of the associated risks & benefits. The overall objective of this study is to compare clinical outcomes after knee arthroplasty surgery in smokers, ex-smokers & non-smokers. Methods. We obtained data from the UK Clinical Research Practice Datalink (CPRD) that contains information on over 11 million patients (7% of the UK population) registered at over 600 general practices. CPRD data was linked to Hospital Episode Statistics, hospital admissions & Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) data. We collected data on all KAs (n=64,071) performed over a 21-year period (1995 to 2016). Outcomes assessed included: local & systemic complications (at 6-months post-surgery): infections (wound, respiratory, urinary), heart attack, stroke & transient ischaemic attack, venous thromboembolism, hospital readmissions & GP visits (1-year), analgesic use (1-year), surgical revision (up to 20-years), mortality (90-days and 1-year), & 6-month change from pre-operative scores in Oxford Knee Score (OKS). Regression modelling is used to describe the association of smoking on outcomes, adjusting for confounding factors. Results. Smoking was associated with an increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) (4.2% smokers vs. 2.7% non-smokers) (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.76, p-value 0.017). LRTI were similar in ex-smokers & smokers at 3.9%. There was no association with any of the other 6-month complications. Pain medication use over 1-year post surgery was higher in smokers compared to non-smokers: gabapentinoids 7.4% vs. 5.2% (OR 0.74, p< 0.001), opioids 45.9% vs. 35.3% (OR 0.79, p< 0.001), NSAIDs 51.6% vs. 46.1% (OR 0.91, p = 0.044). Mortality was higher in smokers at 1-year compared to non-smokers (hazard ratio (HR) 0.53, p<0.001) & ex-smokers (HR 0.65, p = 0.037), but there was no difference observed at 90-days. There was no association of smoking on revision surgery over 20-years follow up. Smoking was associated with worse postoperative OKS being 3.1 points higher in non-smokers (p<0.001) & 3.0 points higher in ex-smokers (p<0.001). The overall change in OKS before & after surgery was 13.9 points in smokers versus 16.3 points in non-smokers (p<0.001) & 15.7 points in ex-smokers (p<0.001). Over the year following surgery, smokers were more likely to visit their GP, but there was no association with hospital readmission rates. Conclusion. This is the largest study with linked primary care & secondary care data highlighting impact of a preventable patient factor on outcome of a routinely performed planned intervention. Smokers achieved clinical meaningful improvements in patient reported pain & function (OKS) following KA, although their attained post-operative OKS was lower than in non-smokers & ex-smokers. Levels of pain medication use were notably higher in both smokers & ex-smokers. As smokers achieved good clinical outcomes following KA surgery, smoking should not be a barrier to referral for or consideration of KA. However, the study does highlight particular risks a patient is taking if he/she continues to smoke when being considered for elective knee arthroplasty. This study will help the family physicians as well as patients to make an informed decision on whether to go ahead with a planned intervention whilst patient continues to be an active smoker or not. Key Words: Knee Arthroplasty, Smoking, Patient Reported Outcomes, Epidemiology, Complications

Background. Smoking has been associated with poor tissue oxygenation and vascularisation, predisposing smokers to a higher risk for postsurgical infections. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare the incidence of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) following primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) according to smoking status. Methods. A prospective hospital-registry based cohort was used including all primary total knee and hip arthroplasties performed between 03/1996 and 12/2013 and following them until 06/2014. Smoking status at time of surgery was classified in never, former and current smoker. Incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IRR) for PJI according to smoking status were assessed within the first year and over the whole study period. Adjusted IRRs were obtained using cox regression model. Adjustment was performed for the following baseline characteristics: age, sex, BMI, ASA score, diabetes, arthroplasty site (knee or hip) and surgery duration. Results. We included 8,559 TJAs, 3,361 knee and 5,198 hip arthroplasties. Mean age was 70 years, 61% were women, mean follow-up time was 77 months. 5,722 were never (group 1), 1,315 former (group 2) and 1,522 current (group 3) smokers. Over the study period, 108 PJI occurred. Incidence rates of infection within one year were for group 1, 2 and 3, respectively: 4.7, 10.1 and 10.9 cases/1000 person-year. Comparing ever- vs. never-smokers, the adjusted IRR was 1.84 (95% CI 1.05–3.2). Incidence rates for infection over the whole study period were 1.5, 3.1 and 2.7 cases/1000 person-years for group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Adjusted IRR for ever- vs. never-smokers was 1.46 (95% CI 0.97–2.19). Conclusions. Smoking was associated with an about 1.5 times higher incidence rate of PJI following TJA. The difference was established already in the first year after surgery and remained thereafter. Level of Evidence. prospective registry based comparative cohort study (level II)

Introduction. Smoking, a modifiable factor, may adversely affect post-operative outcomes. Healthcare providers are increasingly denying smokers access to total hip arthroplasty (THA) until they stop smoking. Evidence supporting this is unclear. We assessed the effect of smoking on outcomes following THA. Patients and Methods. We performed a retrospective observational study involving 60,812 THAs (12.4%=smokers, 31.2%=ex-smokers, 56.4%=non-smokers) from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Data were linked with Hospital Episode Statistics and the Office for National Statistics to identify outcomes. The effect of smoking on post-operative outcomes (complications, medications, revision, mortality, PROMs) was assessed using adjusted regression. Results. Following THA, smokers had a significantly increased risk of lower respiratory tract infection (odds ratio (OR)=0.53; 95% CI=0.43–0.64), myocardial infarction (OR=0.41; CI=0.24–0.71), cerebrovascular disease (OR=0.54; CI=0.32–0.93), and ischaemic heart disease (OR=0.62; CI=0.43–0.91) compared with non-smokers. The risk of these complications in smokers was also significantly higher compared with ex-smokers. The risk of other complications, including DVT and wound infection, was similar between smoking groups. Compared with non-smokers (OR=0.55; CI=0.51–0.60) and ex-smokers (OR=0.85; CI=0.78–0.92), smokers had increased opioid usage at one-year post-surgery. Similar patterns were observed for weak opioids and paracetamol. One-year mortality rates were higher in smokers compared with non-smokers (hazard ratio (HR)=0.39, CI=0.30–0.50) and ex-smokers (HR=0.50, CI=0.39–0.65). Long-term revision rates were not increased in smokers. Smokers had significant improvement in PROMs compared with pre-operatively, with no clinically important difference in postoperative PROMs between smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers. Discussion. Smoking was associated with more medical complications (namely vascular), higher analgesia usage, and increased mortality following THA. Most adverse outcomes were reduced in ex-smokers, therefore smoking cessation should be encouraged before arthroplasty. However, THA is clinically effective in smokers, who gain meaningful PROM improvement with no increased revision risk. Conclusion. Smokers should not be universally denied access to primary THA

Smoking is known to have an adverse effect on wound healing and musculoskeletal conditions. This case-controlled study looked at whether smoking has a deleterious effect in the outcome of autologous chondrocyte implantation for the treatment of full thickness chondral defects of the knee. The mean Modified Cincinatti Knee score was statistically significantly lower in smokers (n = 48) than in non-smokers (n = 66) both before and after surgery (p < 0.05). Smokers experienced significantly less improvement in the knee score two years after surgery (p < 0.05). Graft failures were only seen in smokers (p = 0.016). There was a strong negative correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked and the outcome following surgery (Pearson’s correlation coefficient −0.65, p = 0.004). These results suggest that patients who smoke have worse pre-operative function and obtain less benefit from this procedure than non-smokers. The counselling of patients undergoing autologous chondrocyte implantation should include smoking, not only as a general cardiopulmonary risk but also because poorer results can be expected in smokers following this procedure

We sought to determine whether smoking affected the outcome of reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. We analysed the results of 66 smokers (group 1 with a mean follow-up of 5.67 years (1.1 to 12.7)) and 238 non-smokers (group 2 with a mean follow-up of 6.61 years (1.2 to 11.5)), who were statistically similar in age, gender, graft type, fixation and associated meniscal and chondral pathology. The assessment was performed using the International Knee Documentation Committee form and serial cruciometer readings. Poor outcomes were reported in group 1 for the mean subjective International Knee Documentation Committee score (p < 0.001), the frequency (p = 0.005) and intensity (p = 0.005) of pain, a side-to-side difference in knee laxity (p = 0.001) and the use of a four-strand hamstring graft (p = 0.015). Patients in group 1 were also less likely to return to their original level of pre-injury sport (p = 0.003) and had an overall worse final 7 International Knee Documentation Committee grade score (p = 0.007). Despite the well-known negative effects of smoking on tissue healing, the association with an inferior outcome after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament has not previously been described and should be included in the pre-operative counselling of patients undergoing the procedure

This study evaluated the impact of smoking on the surgical outcome of rotator cuff repair controlling for age, gender, and size of tear. Two hundred and fifty patients were evaluated by a blind evaluator and by self report (SST and WORC questionnaires) at baseline and one year post-op. Types of cuff repair included arthroscopic, mini-open and open procedures. Smoking status was evaluated as a current smoker, quit, or never smoked. Smoking history was subsequently dichotomised into smoker and non-smoker. Generalised linear modeling was used to determine the impact of smoking on surgical outcome using age, gender, and tear size as covariates. The mean age of the population used was 56+/−11 years in which 70% were males and 30% females. Tear size was distributed amongst this population as small (0–1 cm {44.9%}), moderate (1–3cm {22.7%}), large (3–5cm {15.2%}) and massive (5+cm {17.2%}). All preliminary analyses indicated gender affected tear size and surgical outcomes, and was also associated with smoking status. Due to this confounding effect, males and females were separated for subsequent analysis. The SST questionnaire found smoking to have a significant negative effect on the 1-year l outcomes of males (8.5 vs. 6.1 p=0.025). A similar trend was seen with the WORC (p=0.07). No significant effects were seen for females, but the sample size was underpowered. Analysis of this population of rotator cuff repairs showed complex interrelationships may exist between gender, age, physical demands and smoking status. The existence of these confounding interrelationships may explain the mixed results seen in the literature concerning smoking and orthopedic procedures. This relatively large cohort established a negative impact of smoking on outcome, after controlling for covariates and confounders. Future research on mediators of cuff outcome should consider potential confounders. Conclusion: Smoking negatively effected surgical outcomes for males but was inconclusive for females. Sex behaved as a confounding variable that masked the smoking effects

Smoking is negatively implicated in healing and may increase the risk of surgical complications in orthopaedic patients. Carbon monoxide (CO) breath testing provides a rapid way of measuring recent smoking activity, but so far, to our knowledge, this has not been studied in elective orthopaedic patients. We studied whether CO-testing can be performed preoperatively in elective orthopaedic patients and whether testing accurately correlates with self-reported smoking status?. CO breath testing was performed on and a brief smoking history was obtained from 154 elective orthopaedic patients on the day of surgery. All patients admitted over 6 weeks for elective orthopaedic intervention were enrolled. 16.2% patients admitted to smoking. The mean CO levels were 15.2 ppm for self-reported smokers and 3.1 ppm for self-reporting non-smokers. One self-reporting non-smoker admitted to smoking after testing. 5 non-smoking patients had a CO breath of >=7, 1 had a CO level of >= 10 ppm. Using a cutoff of 7 ppm gave a sensitivity of 65.4% and a specificity of 96.1%, whilst a cutoff of 10 ppm gave a sensitivity of 57.6% and specificity of 99.2%. Whilst most patients are honest about smoking, CO testing can identify non-disclosing smokers undergoing elective orthopaedic procedures. Due to the high specificity, speed and cost-effectiveness, CO breath testing could be performed routinely to identify patients at risk from smoking-related complications in pre-assessment clinics. Smoking cessation services may reduce the risk of harm. CO testing on admission may demonstrate the efficacy of smoking cessation services

To evaluate the effects of smoking on fracture healing in a non-union population. A consecutive cohort of 104 patients with 107 non-unions managed by external fixation was reviewed. 75% were regular smokers compared to the regional average of 3 0%. 5 8 male and 20 female smokers, matched with the non-smoking group. Patients’ records and x-rays were evaluated; where information was missing patients were contacted by phone/post. Scoring was recorded from our own prospective database. The smokers underwent 2. 6 procedures per segment with a mean treatment time of 17. 43 months (4–64) compared to 1. 9 and 10. 9 (2. 5–24) respectively in non-smoking group. The total hospital stay was 66% greater in the smoking group (41. 12 vs 27. 4 days). 102 non-unions healed, including seven who required revision surgery, six of whom were smokers. In smoking group five went on to amputation and three had residual infection. The entire non-smoking group healed after primary surgery except a 70 years old lady who was converted to intramedullary nailing. The final assessment of the bony and functional results was performed by the method described by Paley and Catagni (JBJS 77A 1995). When considered in the context of regional statistics for smoking there was a trend towards non-union in smokers [P< 0. 05]. When limb reconstruction treatment was compared between the two groups despite the low number of infected cases in the smoking group, the number of surgical procedures, duration of treatment and hospital stay were all increased. Failure, revision rate and residual infection were high in the smoking groups. We conclude that smoking adversely affects both primary fracture healing and non-union treatment

We reviewed 87 patients who had undergone expansive cervical laminoplasty between 1999 and 2005. These were divided into two groups: those who had diabetes mellitus and those who did not. There were 31 patients in the diabetes group and 56 in the control group. Although a significant improvement in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was seen in both groups, the post-operative recovery rate in the control group was better than that of the diabetic group. The patients’ age and symptom duration adversely affected the rate of recovery in the diabetic group only. Smoking did not affect the outcome in either group. A logistic regression analysis found diabetes and signal changes in the spinal cord on MRI to be significant risk factors for a poor outcome (odds ratio 2.86, 3.02, respectively). Furthermore, the interaction of diabetes with smoking and/or age increased this risk. We conclude that diabetes mellitus, or the interaction of this with old age, can adversely affect outcome after cervical laminoplasty. However, smoking alone cannot be regarded as a risk factor

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the immature femoral head is the final common pathway of the Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP) disease. Since cigarette smoking has been linked to the development of vascular disease, a study was performed to see if there was any association between parental smoking and LCP disease. The biological parents of 97 children with LCP disease were questioned on their smoking habits, which were compared to a control group of parents with unaffected children. Further comparison was made with respondents from the Perthes’ Association website who completed an on-line questionnaire. Parents were classified as being smokers or non-smokers on the basis of their smoking habit pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy and at the time of diagnosis of LCP being made. There was a higher proportion of children in the LCP group who had parents who smoke (N=67/97, 69%) compared to the control group (N=14/87, 16%). Further analysis showed that the highest rate occurred when both parents smoke before pregnancy (N=37/97, 38%) followed by when only the father smoked (N=23/97, 24 %). Maternal smoking alone appeared to have the least association (N=7/97, 7 %). In the control group the non-smoking rate was 58/87 [67%]. The changes in smoking patterns with respect to the pregnancy concerned were also noted. Fisher’s Exact test was used to determine any difference between the study group and the control group. There was a significant difference between the Perthes’ SE group concerned to the controls in all respects except maternal smoking. Comparison made with data obtained from the Perthes’ association website showed no difference between the two Perthes’ groups. Conclusion: These results support an association between parental smoking and the development of disease LCP disease

Aims. Cigarette smoking has a negative impact on the skeletal system, causes a decrease in bone mass in both young and old patients, and is considered a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis. In addition, it disturbs the bone healing process and prolongs the healing time after fractures. The mechanisms by which cigarette smoking impairs fracture healing are not fully understood. There are few studies reporting the effects of cigarette smoking on new blood vessel formation during the early stage of fracture healing. We tested the hypothesis that cigarette smoke inhalation may suppress angiogenesis and delay fracture healing. Methods. We established a custom-made chamber with airflow for rats to inhale cigarette smoke continuously, and tested our hypothesis using a femoral osteotomy model, radiograph and microCT imaging, and various biomechanical and biological tests. Results. In the smoking group, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining revealed less expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). The smoking group also had a lower microvessel density than the control group. Image and biochemical analysis also demonstrated delayed bone healing. Conclusion. Cigarette smoke inhalation was associated with decreased expression of angiogenic markers in the early bone healing phase and with impaired bone healing. Cite this article:Bone Joint Res. 2020;9(3):99–107