Patient Perception of Preoperative Nutrition and Recovery After Orthopaedic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Nutritional Science
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Nutritional supplementation is increasingly recognized for improving patient outcomes.
• Preoperative nutrition plays a vital role in surgical success.
• Understanding patient knowledge gaps is key to effective nutritional interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patients' baseline knowledge, attitude, and beliefs regarding nutrition before total hip (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
• To identify specific areas where patient education on preoperative nutrition is needed.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 300 patients (61.3% female, 38.6% male) undergoing THA or TKA.
• Patients' average age was 67 years.
• The questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about preoperative nutrition and supplementation.

Main Results:

• Nearly all patients (99.6%) acknowledged the importance of preoperative nutrition.
• A majority (83.0%) believed they knew how to optimize outcomes through diet, reporting high confidence (98.6%).
• However, only 56.3% knew which supplements to take, indicating a significant knowledge deficit.

Conclusions:

• Most patients lack practical knowledge on achieving optimal preoperative nutrition.
• There is a clear need for targeted patient education regarding the benefits and methods of preoperative nutrition.
• Surgeon recommendations for nutrition programs are likely to be well-received by patients.