First 30 Days Wound-Related Complications in Young Smokers Following Primary Achilles Repair

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Achilles tendon injuries are common in young to middle-aged adults.
• Previous research indicates tobacco smoking may delay postsurgical wound healing.
• Understanding risk factors for complications is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of tobacco smoking on short-term outcomes after primary Achilles tendon repair in patients aged 18-35.
• To compare complication rates, readmissions, and reoperations between smokers and nonsmokers.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS-NSQIP) database.
• Inclusion of patients aged 18-35 undergoing primary Achilles tendon repair (2011-2020).
• Comparison of outcomes including 30-day readmission, minor complications, wound healing issues, and reoperations between smokers and nonsmokers.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were observed in 30-day readmission, reoperation, or minor complication rates between smokers and nonsmokers.
• Black non-Hispanic patients showed a lower likelihood of minor complications compared to White non-Hispanic patients.
• Wound-related complications were generally low in this young patient cohort.

Conclusions:

• Tobacco smoking does not appear to significantly affect short-term outcomes after primary Achilles tendon repair in patients aged 18-35.
• Wound healing and complication rates are low in this demographic, irrespective of smoking status.
• Further research may explore long-term effects and other potential influencing factors on surgical outcomes.