Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001
For more information, contact:Joanne L. Swanson(847) 384-4035 [email protected]
A.J. Wright(847) 384-4034 [email protected]
Todd Schuetz(847) 384-4032 [email protected]
BONES TAKE THE HEAT FROM CIGARETTE SMOKE
NEW YORK--Cigarette smoking is not only bad for your heart and lungs. New reports are showing nicotine is also bad for your bones, muscles and joints.
Speaking here today at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons "Orthopaedics Update" meeting, Stuart A. Hirsch, MD, reported scientific evidence showing the detrimental effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system.
"Nicotine slows fracture healing, estrogen effectiveness and it counteracts the antioxidant properties of vitamins C and E, predisposing smokers to increased hip fracture risk," said Dr. Hirsch, chairman of the Academy's Council on Communications.
Lower back pain and sciatica are more common in smokers, especially those who have smokers' cough. This possibly is due to increased intrasdiscal pressure, Dr. Hirsch said.
"Cigarette smoking is implicated in several musculoskeletal disease processes, including osteoporosis; low back pain, spinal disc disease and wound healing," said Dr. Hirsch. "Smoking increases the incidence of spinal compression fractures in postmenopausal women because they have less bone mass."
Dr. Hirsch said studies now show that:-cigarette smokers have more severe disc degeneration than nonsmokers-cigarette smoking weakens spinal ligaments-smoking reduces the production of bone cells-postmenopausal women who smoke lose bone faster than their peers-fractures take longer to heal in smokers -rotator cuff (shoulder) surgery is more successful in nonsmokers than smokers-surgical incisions take longer to heal in smokers, probably because the tissues are not getting enough oxygen.-smokers have more complications after surgery-bone regeneration improves if the patient stops smoking-spinal fusion is delayed by nicotine in a person's system
A study by Edward N. Hanley Jr., MD, chairman, department of orthopaedic surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, found that back pain from a work-related injury was more common among employees who smoked. Fifty percent of the workers who smoked had low back pain compared to 20 percent of the nonsmokers. The study also showed that workers who smoked had disabling leg cramps, and severe back pain.
Dr. Hirsch said that anyone having elective surgery should stop smoking at least two weeks before the procedure. A nicotine patch should not be used before surgery either.
An orthopaedic surgeon is a medical doctor with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical as well as surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
The 25,500-member Academy (www.aaos.org) is a not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade (www.boneandjointdecade.org), the global initiative in the years 2000-2010 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's quality of life.
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