[The adverse effects of smoking on healing of open tibial fractures].
OBJECTIVE
Survey of the influence of smoking on the healing of open tibial fractures.


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
During the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2000, 168 patients were treated at the Department of Surgery (University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands) due to an open tibial fracture; 118 patients with 125 fractures were included in the study. On the basis of their smoking behaviour, patients were classified as 'non-smokers' or 'smokers'. For all of the patients it was ascertained whether or not complications had occurred during treatment. Whether the fracture had consolidated was determined on the basis of clinical and radiological criteria.


RESULTS
Seventy-two (61%) patients were non-smokers and 46 were smokers. The non-smokers had 77 open tibial fractures and the smokers 48. Initial therapy was identical and wound infections occurred with similar incidences in both groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of osteitis between both groups: 7 (9%) times in the non-smokers and 13 (27%) times in smokers (p = 0.04). The mean time to consolidation was 26 weeks for non-smokers and 33 weeks for smokers (p = 0.04). Smokers remained longer in hospital and underwent more re-operations.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking was negatively associated with the healing of open tibial fractures. In smoking patients, the time to consolidation was on average statistically significantly longer and they suffered more from osteitis.
Hoogendoorn
J M
JM
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, afd. Heelkunde, Postbus 85.500, 3508 GA Utrecht.
van der Werken
Chr
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010000:Osteitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology