title: Nutritional status and wound healing in open fractures of the lower limb.
abstract: Forty-three patients averaging 28.2 (range 16--74) years with open fractures of the lower limbs were studied prospectively for 40 weeks using anthropometrical, biochemical and haematological parameters to ascertain their relationship to wound healing following injury. Nearly half (21/43) of the patients were malnourished at admission and the number increased to 22 a week after injury. Dietary advice and better food intake improved nutritional status with only 13 patients remaining malnourished at the 40th week. Wound healing was earlier when creatinine-height index was normal throughout the course of treatment and was delayed when serum albumin level was low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, 141008 Punjab, India. amitabhdwyer@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mam
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antony
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D000886:Anthropometry; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D003404:Creatinine