Adding food for thought. Structuring nutritional support for elderly trauma patients.

Of all elderly patients admitted to the acute setting, orthopaedic patients have been shown to be most severely undernourished or malnourished. The delivery of nutrition as part of patient care is undervalued and underdeveloped. Creating strategies within which effective treatment can be achieved is vital to its efficient delivery. Effective management of nutrition for those at risk will speed recovery, reduce the incidence of secondary complications and mortality and reduce nursing workload in both hospitals and community settings.