title: Cigarette smoking and its orthopedic consequences.
abstract: Cigarette smoking and its ramifications are coming under increasing scrutiny in the field of orthopedic surgery. Smoking has been implicated in impeding bone metabolism and fracture repair, and increasing the rate of postoperative infection and the incidence of nonunion. This article reviews the current body of knowledge on these topics, as well as the potential adverse effects of smoking on wound healing and microsurgical procedures. An in-depth discussion on the pathophysiologic mechanisms of nicotine is also included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kwiatkowski
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ramp
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects; D009985:Orthopedics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine