Lim CT, et al. – This study investigated the impact of smoking on time to revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The reported risk of earlier revision TKA for smokers was greater than for non–smokers and ex–smokers. Ex–smokers and non–smokers had similar risk for revision TKA. Smoking seemed to have an all–or–none impact on earlier revision TKA as patients who smoked more did not have higher risk of early revision TKA.

Methods

• Researchers retrospectively stratified a total of 619 primary TKAs referred to an academic tertiary center, according to the patient smoking status.
• Then they analyzed smoking status for associations with time to revision TKA using a Chi square test.
• They also analyzed the link according to the indication for revision TKA.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that smokers (37/41, 90%) had an increased risk of earlier revision for any reason compared to non-smokers (274/357, 77%, p = 0.031).
• Researchers observed that smokers (37/41, 90%) had an increased risk of earlier revision for any reason compared to ex-smokers (168/221, 76%, p = 0.028).
• Additionally, subgroup analysis did not reveal a difference in indication for revision TKA (p > 0.05).