The effects of nutritional deficiencies, smoking, and systemic disease on orthopaedic outcomes.
Most patients are evaluated by an internist for medical clearance before undergoing an elective orthopaedic procedure. Internists and anesthesiologists evaluate a patient's risk for morbidity or mortality from a procedure, whereas orthopaedic surgeons are often primarily concerned with a patient's risk for a poor outcome. Nutritional and systemic comorbidities can increase the risks for surgical site infections and poor outcomes. Knowing how to handle and identify these issues before surgery can have a substantial effect on improving the likelihood of good outcomes from elective orthopaedic procedures.
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Campbell Clinic, University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee.
Byron F
BF
Stephens
G Andrew
GA
Murphy
William M
WM
Mihalko
D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome