Impact of Smoking on Clinical Outcomes of Open Arthrolysis for Post-Traumatic Elbow Stiffness

Abstract

Background: Elbow stiffness is a common orthopedics problem after elbow trauma. Meanwhile, smoking is becoming a worldwide public health challenge, which has been considered as a predisposing factor for adverse functional outcomes after various orthopedic surgeries. This retrospective study seeks to identify whether smoking affects clinical outcomes of open arthrolysis for post-traumatic elbow stiffness in male patients.