My orthopedic surgeon won't operate on my severe cervical stenosis until I quit smoking he says the bones won't fuse properly. Is that accurate? And is it ethical to withhold surgery over smoking? I know healing's slower for smokers, but is fusion really impossible if I don't quit?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Dhankecha Dineshbhai

General Practitioner

MBBS
6+ Yrs

Consult Now

Yes, smoking slows spinal fusion; surgery may fail‚Äîquitting is crucial for success and safety.

Dr. Dhankecha Suggests...

Consult a Orthopaedician

Find a Orthopaedician

Answered 3 days ago

More Orthopaedics Health Queries

View all

Question

My left ACL tore completely three years ago and I've been managing without surgery so far. Is it okay to keep postponing the surgery or should I get it done right away? I'm worried about long-term damage if I wait too long

Question

I had surgery for a hand bone fracture between my elbow and wrist last month and now have two plates in my left hand. I've been resting for a month and started physiotherapy slowly. When can I safely return to playing cricket and are there any long-term risks I should be aware of?

Question

I've been having pain in my left knee for about two months now, and sometimes it makes a cracking sound when I straighten it. What could be causing this, and is surgery something I might need?