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SMOKING DELAYS FRACTURE HEALING: A STUDY USING FRACTURE STIFFNESS AS AN END-POINT



Abstract

A study was undertaken of externally fixed tibial fractures in which a fracture stiffness of greater than 15Nm/° was used to define when the frame was removed were included 37 patients were studied; 20 (54%) non-smokers and 17 (46%) smokers. The two groups were comparable (ANOVA p=0. 35) for other factors.

Mean healing times in the non-smokers was 15. 5 weeks and in smokers was 21. 2 weeks (t-test p=0. 05).

We encourage all patients with tibial fractures to stop smoking by quoting an increase of treatment time of six weeks.

The abstracts were prepared by Mr Simon Donell. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Department of Orthopaedics, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Level 4, Centre Block, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, United Kingdom