The purpose of this study was to evaluate if an intervention with smoking cessation starting during the acute hospitalization period and continuing during the acute postoperative phase of 6 weeks would reduce the frequency of overall postoperative complications and wound infections in patients with acute musculoskeletal injuries requiring surgical treatment. The secondary aims were to study the short and the long term (1 year) abstinence rate, functional outcome, health related quality of life as well as costs.

Tobacco smoking is a major health problem. The effect of a smoking cessation intervention prior to elective orthopedic surgery has been evaluated previously. However, as far as we know there are no prospective randomized studies investigating the effect of smoking cessation on complication rate in patients with acute musculoskeletal injuries.

Inclusion Criteria:

• daily smoker: more than 2 cigarettes per day for at least one year
• acute fracture of an extremity, in need of surgical treatment
• oral and written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy
• alcohol or drug abuse prohibiting compliance with the study protocol
• living outside the county of Stockholm prohibiting follow-up
• a severe mental illness including dementia
• inability to read and understand Swedish