An Overview OfMalnutrition As An Underestimated Factor In Orthopaedic Surgery

Abstract

A balanced lifestyle and a healthy diet are crucial components of optimal health maintenance.All human metabolic functions depend on proper nutrition hence it is imperative that people receive enough nourishment.Adequate nutrition not only keeps the body functioning but also safeguards against infections and disease and aids in the healing process.For patients undergoing either major or minor surgeries, getting adequate calories and maintaining a healthy nutritional status becomes even more necessary.Substantial effects on outcomes are possible from malnutrition in orthopaedic patients, a condition that is understudied and sometimes neglected.Numerous investigations have demonstrated that malnutrition is highly prevalent in orthopaedic patients. Delays in healing, extended hospital stays, morbidity, a high rate of post-operative complications, and even death are all associated with inadequate nutrition.To prevent complications after surgery, it is crucial to consume a healthy diet while in the hospital. Malnutrition can strike even a well-nourished orthopaedic patient experiencing severe trauma or a post-operative wound infection.Major surgery tends to be tolerated better by well-nourished patients than by severely malnourished patients. The American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) has recommended methods for assessing hospital patients' nutritional status. These methods include criteria and data for nutritional needs, food intake, clinical picture of the patients, anthropometric and laboratory parameters. The findings revealed that preoperative and postoperative nutrition is an important yet often overlooked aspect of surgical care. For decades, the link between poor nutritional status and surgical outcomes has been clearly and consistently demonstrated.