Nutritional status of orthopedic patients with surgical complications.

The incidence and effects of malnutrition in orthopedic surgery and nutritional status were investigated at the time of surgery in 106 patients. Arm muscle circumference was used to measure the nutritional status. The incidence of complications was correlated with poor protein nutrition. Patients with evidence, of protein malnutrition had a higher incidence of wound infection. Patients with multiple previous operations had a greater number of complications of any type. The combination of poor nutritional status and multiple previous operations was associated with a 42% incidence of postsurgical complications.