Does smoking influence outcome after autologous chondrocyte implantation?: A case-controlled study

Jaiswal PK, Macmull S, Bentley G, et al. · The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume

Smokers had worse knee scores before and after surgery, less improvement at 2 years, and all graft failures occurred in smokers (p=0.016); heavier smoking correlated strongly with worse outcome (r=-0.65).

Population

114 patients undergoing autologous chondrocyte implantation for full-thickness chondral defects (48 smokers, 66 non-smokers)

Intervention

Smoking (observed)

Comparator

Non-smokers undergoing the same procedure

Limitations

Non-randomized case-control comparison; smokers differed at baseline; single-centre series.