According to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, smoking may increase risk of complication following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). 

The research team reviewed information on 1,834 primary TSAs and RSAs across 1,614 patients (814 smokers, 1,020 nonsmokers). Overall, complications occurred in 75 shoulders (44 smokers, 31 nonsmokers). The research team notes that smoking was associated with lower periprosthetic infection-free survival rates and overall complication-free survival rates compared to nonsmoking. In addition, both current and former smokers were at increased risk of periprosthetic infection in comparison with nonsmokers, and current smokers showed a higher risk of postoperative fracture compared to both former smokers and nonsmokers. Learn more...