Patients considering surgery for an achy, deteriorating shoulder, elbow, knee or hip are familiar with the post-operative rehabilitation routine they’re expected to follow once they’re home. Exercises. Stretches. Movement. Scheduled sessions with a physical therapist.
Now, an increasing number of patients are advised to prepare for surgery ahead of time with “nutritional pre-hab” to optimize the health of their tissues – and the speed of their recovery – after surgery.
“Good nutrition prior to surgery is critical,” says Dr. Brian Hill, a board-certified elbow and shoulder surgeon at Palm Beach Orthopaedic Institute who performs surgery at Jupiter Medical Center.
“We’ve identified that what really helps with patients is pre-surgical patient nutrition, or what we call pre-hab.” Nutritional pre-hab is a fairly simple-to-follow protocol focused on making sure the body has extra fluids, electrolytes and proteins in the days and weeks leading up to surgery. This routine supports the muscles and tissues that will be cut and repaired during surgery, ensuring they’re in an optimal state of health for a speedier recovery.
“The next explosion in the field of orthopedic surgery is surgical nutrition,” says Dr. Hill. “It’s going to be something that all physicians are going to recommend before and after surgery to help the body endure surgery and recover quicker.” In practice, nutritional pre-hab means:
- Drinking electrolyte-rich Gatorade or similar sports drinks the day and night before surgery – and perhaps even the day of surgery
- Increasing protein intake in the days leading up to surgery, whether as foods, protein drinks/shakes or packets that are added to liquids
“When you injure yourself, the body becomes protein-deficient because everything’s going toward repairing that tissue,” Dr. Hill explains. “A surgical event is almost a self-inflicted injury, and we’re learning that the body needs double or triple the amount of proteins and nutrients before surgery for health and recovery afterward. If we can get the muscles in better nutritional shape before surgery, they advance quicker after surgery.”
Supportive nutrients enhance the body’s ability to respond quickly to the invasive nature of surgery, and they help tissues repair quickly once the incisions are closed, Dr. Hill explains. Nutritional support is already in place at Jupiter Medical Center for some orthopedic patients, both before and after surgery.
Orthopedic patients can be screened easily before surgery to determine their protein and electrolyte status.
AUTHOR: Brian W. Hill, M.D. is a board-certified shoulder surgeon at Palm Beach Orthopedic Institute. He is an expert in advanced reconstructive and arthroscopic techniques, and serves as an assistant team physician for the Washington Nationals and their affiliates. Dr. Hill treats shoulder injuries and arthritis with a focus on patient-centered care and clear communication.
