Abstract

Background: Soft tissue injury is a common clinical condition, and the wound healing process depends on many factors. Among these, nutrition plays a crucial role in providing energy and essential nutrients to support tissue regeneration, enhance immunity, and prevent infection. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the nutritional status and dietary intake of patients with soft tissue injuries, thereby determining the relationship between nutrition and the wound healing process in these patients.  

Methods: This prospective observational study included 20 patients aged 18 years and older with soft tissue injuries, hospitalized at the Department of Burn and Sequelae Plastic Surgery, Hue Central Hospital from January to April 2025. Data collected included general information, nutritional status assessed by BMI and SGA tool, 24-hour dietary recall for 7 days, and wound healing rate after 1 week. Data were processed using SPSS 20 software.

Results: In this study, the majority of the study subjects were male (60%); the average age was 40.2 ± 12.6. The main causes of injury were occupational and traffic accidents, accounting for 80%, with the most common injury site being the lower extremities (75%). The average injury area was 8.3 ± 2.8 cm². 20% of patients were assessed as malnourished according to BMI, while 65% were assessed as at risk of malnutrition according to SGA. 16/20 patients did not meet the recommended protein intake, with an average of 60.1 ± 12.4 g/24h. Patients with normal BMI, SGA-A, and adequate intake of energy, protein, vitamin C, and zinc had a higher wound healing rate compared to those with malnutrition and inadequate intake, with statistically significant correlations (p<0.05). Although there were differences in complication rates between groups, these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions: The study results confirm the important role of nutrition in wound healing. Improving diet and providing adequate nutrients can shorten recovery time, optimize treatment, and significantly improve the quality of life for patients.