Energy Balance in Elderly Patients after Surgery for a Femoral Neck Fracture

To study energy and protein balances in elderly patients after surgery, spontaneous energy and protein intake and resting energy expenditure (REE) were measured in 20 elderly female patients with a femoral neck fracture (mean age 81 ± 4, SD, range 74-87 years; weight 53 ± 8, range 42-68 kg) during a 5-6 day period following surgery. REE, measured over 20-40 min by indirect calorimetry using a ventilated canopy, averaged 0.98 ± 0.15 kcal/min on day 3 and decreased to 0.93 ± 0.15 kcal/min on day 8-9 postsurgery (p < 0.02). REE was positively correlated with body weight (r = 0.69, p < 0.005). Mean REE extrapolated to 24 hr (24-REE) was 1283 ± 194 kcal/day. Mean daily food energy intake measured over the 5-day follow-up period was 1097 ± 333 kcal/day and was positively correlated with 24-REE (r = 0.50, p < 0.05). Daily energy balance was -235 ± 351 kcal/day on day 3 (p < 0.01 us zero) and —13 ± 392 kcal/day on day 8-9 postsurgery (NS us zero) with a mean over the study period of -185 ± 289 kcal/day (p < 0.01 ...