10/23/2014
Important news from NJ Spine Group:
We have long recognized the association between smoking and poorer spinal outcomes. Further, the relationship of smoking and increased intervertebral disc disease has been well characterized. However, we have not known if patients who cease smoking actually improve their chances
for improved outcomes…..until now.
Smoking Cessation Related to Improved Patient-Reported Pain Scores Following Spinal Care
Caleb Behrend, MD1; Mark Prasarn, MD2; Ellen Coyne, MS1; MaryBeth Horodyski, EdD, ATC3; John Wright, MS1; Glenn R. Rechtine, MD1
1 Department of Orthopaedics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14625. E-mail address for C. Behrend: behrend@ucla.edu
2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6400 Fannin, Suite 1700, Houston, TX 77030
3 UF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute, University of Florida, P.O. Box 112727, Gainesville, FL 32611J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2012 Dec 05;94(23):2161-2166. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.K.01598
Background:
Smoking is associated with low back pain, intervertebral disc disease, inferior patient outcomes following surgical interventions, and increased rates of postoperative complications. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of smoking and smoking cessation on pain and disability in patients with painful spinal disorders.
Results:
Compared with patients who had never smoked, patients who were current smokers reported significantly greater pain in all visual analog scale pain ratings (p < 0.001). The mean improvement in reported pain over the course of care was significantly different between nonsmokers and current smokers (p
American Academy of Orthopaedic SurgeryCervical Spine Research SocietyScoliosis Research SocietyAAOS Low Back PainASCEND SpineNorth American Spine SocietySpine-health.comSpineuniverse.com
