Smoking linked to joint replacement failure
Published date : 01 May 2012
Article date : 01 May 2012
Two new studies presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2012 Annual Meeting reveal the damaging effects of smoking on total joint replacement.
The first, an analysis of 621 patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) procedures, assessed clinical outcomes including pain, function and range of motion, in smokers and non-smokers. Of the group of smokers, knee replacement failure rate was 10 times higher than in those classed as non-smokers. The rate of additional medical complications including DVT, blood clots, anaemia requiring treatment, cardiac problems and acute renal failure was also revealed to be 'significantly higher' in smokers.
The second study investigated the effects of smoking on patients undergoing acetabulum reconstruction surgery using ultra-porous metal. Generally, these newer materials have shown a tendency to lead to fewer hip replacement failures and higher survival rates than implants made from standard porous metals. In this study of 533 hip replacements (159 primary and 374 revision surgeries) a failure rate of 9.1% was recorded in smokers, compared to the 3.4 % observed in non-smokers.
More information on these studies and the related AAOS Smoking Cessation Forum can be found here.
View devices used in knee replacement procedures here.
View a range of acetabular components here.
