Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 predicts surgical outcomes in 1532 patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty: A...

Limited information exists about the predictive effect of Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) 2002 on orthopedic surgery. The aim of the present study is to explore the role of NRS 2002 in postoperative complications and resource utilization in patients with total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

We retrospectively collected the demographics and surgical results of nearly 2000 TJA patients admitted from 2016 to 2020 and assessed the differences in short- and long-term complications and resource utilization parameters. Multivariate linear, logistic regression, and subgroup analysis were subsequently used to control for potential confounders. Survival analysis was performed to further verify the cumulative incidence of postoperative complications.

We identified 1532 patients receiving TJA, 8.7% of which were at nutrition risk (NRS 2002 score ≥3 out of 7). Preoperative nutrition risk was associated with an increased risk of systemic complications, incisional complications, surgical site infection (SSI), incisional SSI, periprosthetic joint infection, dislocation, and periprosthetic fracture after TJA (odds ratio [OR], 3.62-31.99; all P < 0.05). Preoperative nutrition risk was further associated with an increased risk of cardiac complications, respiratory complications, urinary complications, and arthroplasty-related reoperation (OR, 3.16-12.29; all P < 0.01). Moreover, preoperative nutrition risk was associated with increased costs and length of stay, and increased risk of unplanned intensive care unit admission, arthroplasty-related readmission, infection-related readmission, and SSI-related readmission.

NRS 2002 is associated with an elevated risk of postoperative complications and increased resource utilization, following TJA. Thus, routine screening is recommended to identify nutrition risk statuses of patients undergoing elective TJA.