Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Hip Arthroscopic Surgery: A Matched-Pair Controlled Study With a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up
Authors: Lall AC, Hammarstedt JE, Gupta AG, Laseter JR, Mohr MR, Perets I, Domb BG
DOI: 10.1177/2325967118822837
Background
Smoking has known deleterious effects on tissue healing, but limited evidence exists on its specific impact following hip arthroscopy.
Methods
Smokers and nonsmokers were matched on age, BMI, and pathology. PROs (mHHS, NAHS, HOS-SSS) were collected preoperatively and at ≥2-year follow-up.
Key Findings
- Smokers started and ended with lower PRO scores than matched nonsmokers.
- Both groups improved postoperatively, but smokers had smaller gains and lower satisfaction.
- Smoking did not increase complication or reoperation rates in this cohort.
What Does This Mean for Providers?
- Smoking is associated with inferior PROs following hip arthroscopy, even when baseline characteristics are controlled.
- Preoperative counseling on smoking cessation is warranted to improve surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
- While arthroscopy still benefits smokers, managing expectations is critical.