The improved outcome over the decade since the initial experience reflects both a reduced severity of injury attributable to restraint systems and a more flexible approach to the acute management, which can modify the effect of associated injuries.

For older recuperative care patients, prealbumin and its change during hospitalization are positively associated with protein intake, but inflammation or changes in inflammation appear to exert a much more-powerful influence on prealbumin concentration. Given the potential confounding effects of inflammation, monitoring the change in prealbumin is not an adequate substitute for a more-detailed nutritional assessment in this population.