Perioperative oral nutritional support in surgical hip fracture patients: suggestions for the prevention of pressure ulcers.

摘要

We read with great interest the article by Botella-Carretero et al. The Authors have demonstrated that in normally or mildly undernourished elderly, submitted to surgery for hip fracture, peri-operative high-protein nutritional support is associated with less postoperative complications. Surprisingly, no incidence data on pressure ulcers (PUs) was provided. PUs are now frequently listed among the nutritional outcomes. In regard with this, we would ask the Authors if information on the incidence of PUs is also available even if none occurred. Patients undergoing surgical treatment for hip fracture commonly experience prolonged period of immobilization. Accordingly, the occurrence of PUs has been reported up to 60% of those included but it has been also temptatively prevented by nutritional support.