Researchers looked at 42 people getting shoulder surgery to see how many had nutrition problems before their operation. They found that about 12% of patients weren’t getting enough nutrients, while 62% had signs of body inflammation. People with higher body weight were more likely to have nutrition problems. The study suggests that doctors should check patients’ nutrition and inflammation levels before shoulder surgery, since these issues might affect how well patients recover. This is important because good nutrition helps your body heal after surgery.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many people getting shoulder surgery have nutrition problems or body inflammation, and what factors put them at risk
  • Who participated: 42 patients having planned shoulder surgery at one hospital between September 2023 and April 2024. The study looked at their blood tests before surgery to check nutrition and inflammation levels.
  • Key finding: About 1 in 8 patients (12%) had nutrition problems, and about 6 in 10 patients (62%) showed signs of inflammation in their blood tests. People with higher body weight were 1.75 times more likely to have nutrition problems.
  • What it means for you: If you’re having shoulder surgery, your doctor may want to check your nutrition and inflammation levels beforehand. This could help identify people who might need extra nutrition support before surgery to help them recover better. However, this is a small study, so more research is needed before making major changes to how doctors prepare patients.

The Research Details

This was a retrospective study, which means researchers looked back at medical records from patients who had already had shoulder surgery. They reviewed blood test results from 42 patients taken before their elective (planned) shoulder surgery between September 2023 and April 2024 at a single hospital.

The researchers checked specific blood markers to determine two things: (1) whether patients were nutritionally at risk (meaning they had low levels of protein markers like albumin or prealbumin, or low vitamin D), and (2) whether patients had signs of inflammation in their blood (using markers like CRP and other inflammatory indicators).

They then compared these findings with patient information like age, body weight, and existing health conditions to see what factors were connected with nutrition problems or inflammation.

Looking back at existing medical records is a practical way to identify patterns without needing to recruit new patients or wait for new data. This approach helped researchers quickly understand how common nutrition problems are in shoulder surgery patients and what risk factors matter most. Understanding these patterns can help doctors identify which patients might benefit from nutrition support before surgery.

This study has some important limitations to understand: it’s relatively small (only 42 patients), it only looked at one hospital, and it only examined patients at one point in time before surgery. The study doesn’t prove that nutrition problems cause worse surgery outcomes—it only shows that these problems exist. The researchers used standard blood tests that are commonly available, which is a strength. However, because this is a small study from one location, the results may not apply to all shoulder surgery patients everywhere.

What the Results Show

Of the 42 patients studied, 5 patients (about 12%) were found to be nutritionally at risk based on their blood tests. This is higher than what doctors expected based on previous research about malnutrition in surgery patients.

Much more common was inflammation: 26 patients (about 62%) showed signs of inflammation in their blood tests. This means that inflammation was about 5 times more common than nutrition problems in this group.

Patients with nutrition problems had significantly higher body weight on average (BMI of 37 compared to 29 for others). The study found that for every unit increase in BMI, the odds of having nutrition problems increased by 75%.

Patients with nutrition problems also tended to have more abnormal blood test results overall, suggesting their bodies had multiple issues that needed attention before surgery.

The study found that patients with inflammation signs had significantly more abnormal blood test results overall compared to those without inflammation. Interestingly, the researchers found no significant differences in smoking status, alcohol use, or common health conditions like diabetes between patients with and without nutrition or inflammation problems. This suggests that body weight and overall lab abnormalities may be more important risk factors than these other factors.

The researchers noted that the rate of nutrition problems they found (12%) was higher than what previous studies had reported in surgery patients. This could mean that nutrition problems in shoulder surgery patients are more common than doctors previously thought, or it could reflect differences in how they measured nutrition status. The high rate of inflammation (62%) is notable and suggests that inflammation may be an important issue to address before shoulder surgery.

This study is small with only 42 patients from one hospital, so the results may not apply to all shoulder surgery patients. The study only looked at one moment in time (before surgery) and didn’t follow patients after surgery to see if nutrition problems actually affected their recovery. The study shows associations (things that go together) but doesn’t prove that nutrition problems cause worse outcomes. Additionally, the study didn’t look at whether treating nutrition problems before surgery would improve results. More research with larger groups of patients is needed to confirm these findings.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, doctors may want to consider checking blood tests for nutrition and inflammation markers before shoulder surgery, especially in patients with higher body weight. However, this is preliminary evidence from a small study. The recommendation level is moderate—more research is needed before this becomes standard practice everywhere. If you’re having shoulder surgery, ask your doctor about getting nutrition screening beforehand.

This research is most relevant for people planning to have shoulder surgery, their surgeons, and surgical teams. It’s particularly important for people with higher body weight, as they showed higher rates of nutrition problems. People with other health conditions should also be aware that nutrition status might affect surgery recovery. This research is less directly relevant to people not having surgery, though it highlights the general importance of good nutrition.

If nutrition problems are identified before surgery, improvements would likely take weeks to months to see meaningful changes. Most doctors would want to address significant nutrition issues at least 2-4 weeks before surgery if possible. However, if surgery is urgent, doctors would proceed and manage nutrition support during and after recovery.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your protein intake (target: 1.2-1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight daily) and vitamin D levels if you’re preparing for shoulder surgery. Log daily protein sources and any supplements you’re taking.
  • If you have upcoming shoulder surgery, work with your doctor or a nutrition specialist to ensure you’re eating enough protein and getting adequate vitamins, especially vitamin D. Consider adding protein-rich foods like eggs, fish, chicken, beans, or Greek yogurt to your daily meals.
  • Set weekly reminders to track protein intake and supplement use. If your doctor orders blood tests before surgery, save those results and monitor any changes if you make nutrition improvements. After surgery, continue tracking nutrition to support healing.

This research describes patterns in a small group of 42 patients and does not prove that nutrition problems cause worse surgery outcomes. The findings are preliminary and should not replace personalized medical advice from your surgeon or doctor. If you are planning shoulder surgery, discuss nutrition screening and any concerns about your nutritional status with your healthcare provider before your procedure. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice.