Smoking as a risk factor of advanced heterotopic ossification in patients after lumbar total disk arthroplasty

Smoking is an obvious risk factor of adverse events in early and long-term postoperative period after spine surgery including lumbar total disk arthroplasty. Objective. To study the effect of smoking on clinical and radiological outcomes after lumbar total disk arthroplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS A single-center retrospective observational cohort study was performed. We have analyzed medical records of patients who underwent single-level lumbar total disk arthroplasty for degenerative disease. RESULTS The study included 57 medical records of respondents. The examined medical records were divided into two groups - smokers (n=26) and non-smokers (n=31). There were no significant between-group differences in clinical outcomes. Incidence of adverse events was similar too. Kaplan-Meier event-free survival was similar in both groups. There were no significant between-group differences in X-ray data. Development of heterotopic ossification after lumbar total disk arthroplasty was more active in smokers. CONCLUSION Smoking has no significant effect on clinical and radiological outcomes in patients after single-level after lumbar total disk arthroplasty. On the other hand, smoking significantly increases formation of heterotopic ossification after lumbar total disk arthroplasty.