A Hospital Based Prospective Study to Assess the Effect of Major Orthopedic Surgery on the Nutritional Status of Patients at Newly Established Tertiary Care Center

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is also major problem among residents in long-term care facilities. Furthermore, patients admitted to the hospital may already be malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. The aim of this study to evaluate the effect of major elective orthopaedic surgery on the nutritional status of patients at newly established tertiary care center. Materials & Methods: This is a prospective study done on 50 patients, those who got admitted and operated under department of Orthopaedics at Government Medical College, Dungarpur, Rajasthan, India during one year period. The nutritional assessment was done by both anthropometry (BMI) and biochemical markers (Pre-albumin and Transferrin). The patients were evaluated pre op, post op (at suture removal) and at three months follow up. The proforma was filled up for each patient which included demographic details, diagnosis, surgery done, comorbidities and the nutritional parameters. Results: Total number of patients assessed during the one-year time period was 50. Total number of cases followed up was 31 (62% follow up). The pre-albumin & transferrin values at pre op, post op and follow up of the humerus shaft fracture & tibia shaft fracture patients shows a significant difference between all three values (P<0.0001, P<0.0001*** respectively). The comparison of mean value in between humerus shaft fracture & lower limb surgery groups, which was pre albumin values showed a significant difference (p<0.05**). Transferrin values showed a difference which was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that the effectiveness of pre-albumin as a reliable nutritional marker. Prealbumin can be used routinely in patients at risk of malnutrition to assess and to take appropriate nutritional measures to prevent complications.