ROSEMONT, Ill., April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Orthopaedic surgeons outline steps to help patients stop smoking, ideally before surgery.  Tobacco and nicotine use are known to impair the body’s ability to heal bones and wounds. Two new studies presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons looked at the effects of smoking on total joint replacement. A separate Smoking Cessation Forum featured expert testimony on how orthopaedic surgeons may successfully encourage and aid patients in quitting smoking, optimally before surgery.

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