Food Is Medicine post-operative meal delivery for orthopaedic trauma patients
Official title: Impact of A Postoperative Meal Delivery Program on Malnutrition in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients
Run by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NCT07169448 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try whether delivering medically tailored meals and shakes for 12 days after surgery helps orthopaedic trauma patients recover better and improve metabolic lab markers.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 2027 |
| Study ends | September 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07169448 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (18+) who had orthopaedic trauma surgery with an inpatient stay at Cedars-Sinai, speak English or Spanish, were discharged home, and live in the specified Los Angeles zip codes are eligible.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are pregnant, have congenital metabolic conditions, have dietary restrictions that cannot be accommodated, have research opt-outs, or live outside the specified zip codes are unlikely to benefit from participating.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational program at Cedars-Sinai that provides 12 days of medically tailored meals and shakes delivered to patients' homes through a partnership with Meals on Wheels. Participants are orthopaedic trauma surgery patients discharged home and will have metabolic labs drawn at their 2-week and 6-week post-operative visits. The project tracks acute wound complications, changes in metabolic biomarkers over time, and patient-reported outcomes (PROMIS) plus qualitative feedback. All participants will be followed for up to one year to capture recovery trajectories and complication rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce post-operative wound complications, improve recovery metrics, and inform post-op nutrition programs that lower healthcare costs.
How similar studies have gone: Medically tailored meal programs have shown benefits in chronic disease and malnutrition contexts, but applying a short post-operative meal delivery program specifically to orthopaedic trauma recovery is relatively novel and not well established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals 18 years old or older are included. * English or Spanish speaking * Reside in the following zip codes: 90001, 90002, 90003, 90004, 90005, 90006, 90007, 90008, 90009, 90010, 90011, 90012, 90013, 90014, 90015, 90016, 90017, 90018, 90019, 90020, 90021, 90023, 90026, 90027, 90028, 90029, 90031, 90035, 90036, 90037, 90038, 90039, 90043, 90044, 90046, 90047, 90048, 90052, 90057, 90059, 90061, 90062, 90065, 90068, 90069 * Discharged home, either directly from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center or after time in a skilled nursing facility or acute rehab * Orthopaedic trauma surgical patients that have had an operation and inpatient stay at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Exclusion Criteria: * Any records flagged "break the glass" or "research opt out." * Any pregnant patients. * Patients with any congenital metabolic conditions * Patients with dietary restrictions (ex. Kosher, Halal, vegan, gluten free, etc.) that are unable to be reasonably accommodated by St. Vincent Meals on Wheels * Any patients with mental illness the prevents them from giving consent. * Patients with dementia or cognitive impairment. * Patients who are homeless and/or unreliable to follow up
Where it's running
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Carol Lin, MD — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Program Manager
- Email: joel.arnold@cshs.org
- Phone: 424-314-0536
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.