Association of Smokeless Tobacco and Complications Following Ankle and Hindfoot Arthrodesis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the rates of postoperative complications following ankle or hindfoot arthrodesis among current smokeless tobacco users and people who smoke compared to matched controls, and (2) compare rates of postoperative complications in current smokeless tobacco users vs people who smoke tobacco cigarettes.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a large national database. For patients who underwent ankle or hindfoot arthrodesis, smokeless tobacco users (n = 131) and people who smoke (n = 1948) were matched 1:4 with controls, and smokeless tobacco users (n = 131) were matched 1:4 with people who smoke tobacco cigarettes (n = 524). Orthopaedic complications within 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years were compared using multivariable logistic regressions.

RESULTS: Within 90 days of ankle or hindfoot arthrodesis, smokeless tobacco users demonstrated significantly higher rates of hardware removal (odds ratio [OR] 5.01, 95% CI 1.65-15.20), wound disruption or dehiscence (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.21-7.44), and pooled complications (16.0% vs 5.9%, OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.50-5.38) compared with tobacco-naïve controls. The rates of hardware removal, wound disruption and dehiscence, and pooled complications remained significant in the smokeless tobacco cohort at 1 and 2 years. At 2 years following ankle or hindfoot arthrodesis, smokeless tobacco users additionally demonstrated significantly higher rates of infection (OR 6.08, 95% CI 1.15-32.05) and nonunion (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.31-4.20) compared with tobacco-naïve controls. Within 90 days of ankle or hindfoot arthrodesis, smokeless tobacco users demonstrated significantly lower rates of malunion or nonunion than patients who smoke tobacco cigarettes (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.12-0.97), whereas all other complications were not significantly different.

CONCLUSION: Smokeless tobacco use is associated with higher rates of complications following ankle or hindfoot arthrodesis compared with tobacco-naïve controls, and physicians should screen for smokeless tobacco use specifically and encourage cessation before operating electively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.