Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patient Perceptions of Nutrition in the Perioperative Episode of Care.

Background: While malnutrition in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty occurs with moderate frequency and can be associated with postoperative complications, enhanced nutrition has been shown to have postoperative benefits. To date, patient knowledge and perceptions of the role of nutrition in recovering from surgery have not been studied. Methods: A Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice survey was administered to arthroplasty candidates presenting to a hip and knee orthopaedic clinic. The survey collected information on demographics, surgical history, patient concerns around the time of surgery, and patients' attitudes toward and perceptions of nutrition. Results: A total of 500 patients (62.4% women) completed the survey. More than half of patients reported having a physician discuss nutrition with them, but only a third had been asked to modify their nutritional habits. The greatest patient concerns surrounding surgery were pain (59.2% of patients) and accomplishing activities of daily life (53.2%). The fewest patients were concerned with nutrition (7.6%), but most patients (94%) would modify their habits if they knew nutrition would positively impact their recovery. Most patients felt nutrition could help maintain muscle mass and function after surgery. Conclusions: Candidates for hip and knee replacements generally recognize nutrition's importance, but few are concerned with their preoperative nutritional status. Current joint replacement literature shows a range of impacts nutrition can have on recovery from surgery. The study findings highlight gaps in patient knowledge regarding nutrition and suggest it would be beneficial for arthroplasty surgeons to actively educate patients on focused perioperative nutrition.