We are excited to announce that Prof Tom Wainwright, in collaboration with ORI Visiting Fellow Dr Matteo Briguglio and international colleagues, has co-authored a new research paper published in Orthopaedic Nursing. The article, titled “Undernutrition, Sarcopenia, Sarcopenic Obesity, and Sarcopenic Undernutrition: A Cross-sectional View on Patients Before Total Joint Arthroplasty,” offers some insights into the prevalence of malnutrition phenotypes in older patients awaiting hip replacement surgery.

This study, involving 60 patients aged between 60 and 85, reveals that over one-third of patients undergoing elective hip replacement are affected by some form of malnutrition, including undernutrition, sarcopenia, or sarcopenic obesity. The findings underscore the potential importance of integrating comprehensive nutritional assessments into preoperative evaluations to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate care.

The publication discusses how nutritional status, including factors like muscle mass and eating behaviours, may influence recovery after joint replacement surgery. It highlights the potential role that personalised nutritional care pathways may have in improving outcomes and enhancing recovery, and emphasises the need for multidisciplinary approaches in managing orthopaedic patients and enhancing perioperative care.

To read the full study, please visit Orthopaedic Nursing or contact the Orthopaedic Research Institute for more information.