Does The Nutritional Status Changes The Healing Outcome Of Simple Diaphysel Tibial Fractures In Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to correlate the healing outcome of the simple diaphyseal fractures with the nutritional status of the patients. Method: In this longitudinal cohort study, total sixty five adult patients (eighteen to forty-five years) with simple, fresh traumatic diaphyseal fractures of both bones of leg managed conservatively; were analysed. The assessment of nutritional status of enrolled patients was done by estimating serum albumin and serum ferritin at the start of treatment. The clinico-radiological follow-up was done to analyze the fracture healing outcomes. As per clinico-radiological outcomes, these patients were divided into two groups: Group-A: clinico-radiological bone healing with RUST score ? 7 at or by the end of 06^th months (normal healing) and Group-B: clinico-radiological bone healing with RUST score 7 by the end of 06^th months (impaired healing). These healing outcomes were correlated with nutritional status of the patients. Results: Difference between the demographic variables of both groups was statistically insignificant. Fifty four patients belonged to Group A and eleven patients to Group B. Serum albumin and serum ferritin shows non-significant relative risk. However, the serum albumin showed a significant correlation with the bony healing progression of diaphysial tibia. Conclusions: Impaired nutritional status of the patients having non-significant relative risk with impaired fracture outcomes, but serum albumin showed positive correlation with the bony healing progression of diaphysial tibial fractures.