The impact of early nutritional support on postoperative wound healing in patients with complex fractures: A meta-analysis review

Abstract

Complex fractures present significant challenges in orthopaedic surgery, particularly in terms of postoperative wound healing. Nutritional status plays a crucial role in the recovery process, with early nutritional support potentially influencing wound healing outcomes. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of early nutritional interventions on postoperative wound healing and scar formation in patients with complex fractures. From an initial pool of 1742 articles, 7 studies were selected for analysis. The results revealed that preoperative nutritional support significantly improved early wound healing, as indicated by lower REEDA scores (SMD = −14.06, 95% CI: [−16.79, −11.32], p < 0.01) 1 week post-surgery. Furthermore, there was a notable reduction in scar formation, as demonstrated by lower Manchester Scar Scale scores (SMD = −25.03, 95% CI: [−30.32, −19.74], p < 0.01) 3 months post-surgery. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating nutritional strategies into the management of complex fractures to optimize postoperative recovery.