Does Smoking Prevent Limb Lengthening Surgery

Patients planning to undergo limb lengthening surgery are thoroughly assessed before the procedure. This evaluation includes blood values, overall health, bone health, and body proportions. Carefully conducting this process is crucial to ensure the surgery is safe and effective.

During leg lengthening surgery, the osteotomy procedure promotes the formation of new bone tissue between bones. However, smoking disrupts blood circulation, limiting the affected tissues' access to necessary nutrients and oxygen, which slows down the bone formation process and diminishes the quality of the newly formed bones.

Therefore, we advise our patients to quit smoking before surgery. Quitting smoking facilitates a faster and smoother recovery process after surgery and significantly enhances the quality of the outcomes. Our patients’ health is our utmost priority. We prioritize providing transparent and accurate guidance regarding surgery. Before deciding on a complex and lengthy surgical procedure like limb lengthening surgery, it is crucial to take all precautions to protect your health and proceed under the supervision of a specialist doctor.

Effects of Smoking on Bone Health

Smoking negatively impacts bone health in several critical ways, which can lead to an increase in bone-related health issues. Here are the main effects of smoking on bone health:

1. Decreased Bone Density: Smoking suppresses the activity of bone-forming cells known as osteoblasts, leading to decreased bone density. The effects of nicotine and other harmful chemicals particularly increase the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

2. Slower Healing Process: Smoking reduces blood flow, which hinders the delivery of oxygen and nutrients necessary for the healing of fractures. Consequently, the healing process for bone fractures slows down, and complications during recovery may increase.

3. Increased Fracture Risk: Due to lower bone density and weak blood circulation, smokers may experience bone fractures more frequently compared to non-smokers. This makes smokers more susceptible to fractures.

4. Increased Risks in Surgical Interventions: Smoking adversely affects the healing process in conditions requiring bone-related surgical interventions. This leads to an increased risk of postoperative infections and a slower recovery time.

Quitting smoking is an important way to protect bone health and accelerate recovery processes. If you have other questions about leg lengthening surgery, you can check our article "What does our doctor think about limb lengthening surgery?" and use the comments section for further questions. Our patient representatives will respond to you as soon as possible. You can also access other doctor and patient representative videos on our YouTube page.