Improving Surgical Outcome The role of nutrition and supplementation Dr. Victoria Coleman is a 1994 graduate of CMCC and a BSc in Kinesiology specializing in Fitness assessment and Exercise Counsel-ing. Working with patients over the years, it became her mission to teach people that everything you eat, breath, drink, and think affects your health. This fuelled her desire to further expand her career and continue her studies. She is an avid follower of the Institute for Functional Medicine and is currently working toward her certification in Functional Medicine. Dr. Coleman is also the president of Douglas Laboratories/Pure Encapsulations Canada. Victoria Coleman, DC ip and knee arthroplasty has become one of the most common orthopedic proce-dures in our aging population. The wait times for these procedures often exceed six to 12 months. This time can be used to strategically prepare the body to maximize the best possible outcome post surgery. One of the most successful strategies for improved outcome, especially in arthroplasty, is to advise a patient to lose weight if needed; and to rec-ommend exercise that will keep the involved muscles strong, flexible, and ready to endure the rehabilitation required post surgery. What is often not addressed is the nutritional status of the perioperative patient. A diet deficient in protein, vitamins, and minerals may impede tissue/bone repair and remodelling, and may negatively affect wound healing and result in a less than optimal surgical outcome. A recent study reported in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery noted a vitamin D deficiency in 50 per cent of patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Vitamin D is known to be crucial to bone healing and muscle function and also has a suggested role in immune function. It is essential to correct any deficiency of this nutrient prior to surgery. Depending on how deficient a person is, using 2,000 to 4,000 IU daily should correct this deficiency in most cases. Most bone remodelling and bone tissue formation, as part of the healing process, occurs at two to four weeks post surgery. Therefore, this is a critical time when the body requires adequate vitamin D. Other nutrients to consider for their role, specifically in tissue formation, bone remodel-ling and wound healing, include: H VITAMIN A Vitamin A may enhance healing in the early inflammatory phase by activating monocytes and macrophages at the wound site. Vitamin A also improves epithelial formation, bone www.canadianchiropractor.ca 26 • CaNaDIaN CHIROPRaCTOR | DECEMBER 2010
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