Abstract
Forty-three patients averaging 28.2 (range 16–74) years with open fractures of the lower limbs were studied prospectively for 40 weeks using anthropometrical, biochemical and haematological parameters to ascertain their relationship to wound healing following injury. Nearly half (21/43) of the patients were malnourished at admission and the number increased to 22 a week after injury. Dietary advice and better food intake improved nutritional status with only 13 patients remaining malnourished at the 40th week. Wound healing was earlier when creatinine-height index was normal throughout the course of treatment and was delayed when serum albumin level was low.
Résumé
Nous avons suivi prospectivement, pendant quarante semaines, 43 malades avec des fractures combinées du membre inférieur en utilisant des paramètres anthropométrique, biochimique et hématologique pour étudier leur relation avec la cicatrisation des parties molles après l’accident. Prés de la moitié des patients (21/43) étaient considérés comme malnutris à leur admission. Les conseils diététiques et une meilleure prise de la nourriture ont amélioré le statut nutritionnel avec seulement treize malades dans le groupe malnutris à la quarantième semaine. La guérison des blessures était plus précoce quand l’index de créatinine était normal durant le cours du traitement et a été retardée quand le niveau de sérum albumine était bas.
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Footnotes
No financial grant or support has been taken from any source for this study.
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