The Frank Stinchfield Award Paper. Nutritional assessment of orthopaedic patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery.

This study confirms recent reports from other disciplines that show a high incidence of nutritional depletion among hospitalized patients. Preoperative assessments revealed a 50% incidence of subclinical nutritional depletion. Nutritional assessment is of value in the diagnosis, treatment, and continuing evaluation of the orthopaedic patient. Clearly the incidence and consequences of malnutrition in orthopaedic patients deserve further evaluation. Appropriate nutritional support needs to be more widely disseminated to and evaluated in this population. Whereas it is doubtful that sterile technique and operative procedures will be greatly improved in the foreseeable future, supportive nutrition therapy may offer the best prospect for immediate and substantial improvement in patient care.