Smoking can have several negative effects on the outcome of a spine surgery. This is because tobacco reduces the flow of blood and oxygen in the body, including the spine, making it harder for surgical wounds to heal, and increasing the risk of infection after surgery. In addition, smoking can weaken bones and tissues, which can affect postoperative recovery.
What are the complications that smoking can cause?
Tobacco use can cause various postoperative complications, such as greater blood loss, infections, and respiratory problems, resulting in greater likelihood of needing to undergo additional surgery. In fact, smokers are 3.5 times more likely to need reoperation in the first 90 days after surgery than non-smokers.
Following, are some of the specific complications that tobacco can cause:
Slower recovery and impaired wound healing. The healing process of the surgical wound depends on oxygen and nutrients supplied through the bloodstream. Nicotine reduces the flow of blood to the tissues, so the wound takes longer to heal. When the wound takes longer to heal, the hospital stay may need to be longer, lengthening the patient’s recovery
time.
Increased risk of infections at the surgical site. Various studies have shown that smokers have up to 3 times greater risk of infection of the wound or surgical implant than non-smokers.
Increased need for transfusions because there is more blood loss during surgery.
Respiratory complications. Smoking impairs lung function, so smokers have a greater risk of respiratory complications during and after anesthesia, such as bronchospasm, pneumonia, or difficulty breathing.
Higher fusion failure rate. In spinal fusion surgeries, the risk of fusion failure is much higher for patients who smoke. In fact, according to various studies, the fusion success rate in smokers is 0.55 times lower than in non-smokers. In other words, chance of failing to achieve the goal of the surgery is almost 5 times greater for smokers. This increases the
probability that the patient will need reoperation.
The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) recommends that patients who are active smokers be advised of the increased risk of reoperation, and be encouraged to quit smoking for at least 4 weeks before spinal fusion surgery, and to continue not smoking for 6 months after the operation.
In conclusion, tobacco can negatively affect the outcome of spine surgery by increasing the risk of postoperative complications, decreasing the rate of fusion success, and reducing the likelihood of significant clinical improvement. For this reason, at Instituto Clavel, we recommend that our patients quit smoking prior to surgery for the best postoperative results.
At Instituto Clavel, we have a top team of neurosurgeons, traumatologists, and orthopedic surgeons with extensive experience in spine surgery and treatment. We also have our own physical therapy center, IC Rehabilitation, providing multidisciplinary collaboration with physiotherapists, osteopaths, and personal trainers. Our goal is to offer the best care possible for our patients’ spines, helping them live without pain, and to improve their quality of life.
If you have any questions about spinal treatments, we encourage you to contact us and make an appointment with one of our expert doctors.
CONTACT
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Dr. Iván Zabaleta Carvajal
Especialista en abordaje mínimamente invasivo de la columna vertebral. Cirugía craneal y cerebral. Hidrocefalia y malformación de chiari.
Categories: Spine treatments, Prevention, Surgery