Effect of early enteral nutrition in elderly patients with hip fracture during the perioperative period

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to assess the effects of early enteral nutrition (EN) in elderly patients with hip fracture.

METHODS:

The patients were classified into two groups (with and without EN). We compared the pre- and postoperative albumin (ALB) and inflammatory marker levels of each group and the time spent in bed and quality of life 3 months after surgery between the two groups.

RESULTS:

The pre- and postoperative IL-6 levels of the experimental group (61.68 $\pm$ 51.80 pg/L) were lower than those of the control group (233.11 $\pm$ 206.31 pg/L) ( $P<$ 0.001). The experimental group spent a shorter period of time in bed (38.75 $\pm$ 14.26 days) in comparison to the control group (99.71 $\pm$ 56.87 days) ( $P<$ 0.001). Quality of life was better in the experimental group than in the control group ( $P<$ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Early EN reduced the increment of postoperative IL-6 levels and improved healing postoperatively.