Nutrition in Surgery: An Orthopaedic Perspective

➤ Malnutrition is common among subsets of patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery and is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. ➤ Serum proteins, in particular, albumin, may be used in the evaluation of nutritional status. ➤ Anthropometric measurements and surveys also play a role in the evaluation of nutritional status. ➤ Increased energy and nutrient requirements due to surgical procedures necessitate increased caloric and protein intake in the perioperative period, which may be achieved through diet or supplementation. ➤ Evidence supports the use of protein-calorie, amino acid, and immunonutrition supplements. Vitamin D supplementation is an area of further consideration. ➤ Diet restriction, activity alterations, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery are all safe, effective approaches to weight loss, although the optimal timing and magnitude of preoperative weight loss require further investigation.