Orthopaedic Primer of Nutritional Requirements for Patients with Musculoskeletal Problems

* Patients with musculoskeletal problems have special nutritional requirements beyond what is required for baseline homeostasis, including an increased need for calories, protein building blocks (arginine and glutamine), and micronutrients (vitamins A, C, and D and minerals zinc and iron). * Patients who are undergoing a surgical procedure may have preexisting malnutrition as well as special unmet postoperative requirements that interfere with recovery if not corrected. * Athletic training requires special nutritional support for an optimal outcome. * The nutritional assessment of patients with musculoskeletal conditions should emphasize prealbumin, transferrin, and anthropometric parameters.