Improved wound healing in transtibial amputees receiving supplementary nutrition

The objective of this prospective study of matched controls was to find out whether supplementary nutrition would improve wound healing and decrease mortality in patients undergoing transtibial amputation for occlusive arterial disease. The nutritional status of 32 consecutive transtibial amputees w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International orthopaedics 1997, Vol.21 (2), p.104-108
Main Authors: ENEROTH, M, APELQVIST, J, LARSSON, J, PERSSON, B. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Amputation - adverse effects
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Nutrition Assessment
Nutritional Status
Nutritional Support - methods
Original
Orthopedic surgery
Peripheral Vascular Diseases - complications
Peripheral Vascular Diseases - surgery
Protein-Energy Malnutrition - complications
Protein-Energy Malnutrition - therapy
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Tibia - surgery
Wound Healing
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Summary:The objective of this prospective study of matched controls was to find out whether supplementary nutrition would improve wound healing and decrease mortality in patients undergoing transtibial amputation for occlusive arterial disease. The nutritional status of 32 consecutive transtibial amputees was assessed and 28 were classified as malnourished. Supplementary nutrition was given reaching an average intake of 2098 kcal/day for a total of 11 days. In 24 patients, at least 5 days of preoperative supplementary nutrition were given, followed by postoperative treatment for a total of 11 days. Four patients who had an immediate operation were given only postoperative treatment, and 4 were excluded. The controls were 32 amputees in another hospital and matching procedures were carried out with corrections for diabetes, sex, age, smoking habits, previous vascular surgery and living conditions before amputation. Healing, including those healed before death in both groups, occurred in 26 of the nutrition group compared to 13 in the control group, which was statistically significant. Nine patients died within 6 months in the nutrition group compared to 14 of the controls (not significant). Malnutrition was present in nearly 90% of transtibial amputees and supplementary nutrition improved healing, but not mortality.
ISSN:0341-2695
1432-5195
DOI:10.1007/s002640050130