Hydration practices in the view of hip, knee, or spine surgery instruct patients to avoid caffeinated drinks, alcoholic beverages, and sugar-sweetened drinks because they adversely impact body fluid homeostasis. However, some patients might be inclined to not include beer among the prohibited beverages because of its low alcohol content and conflicting evidence about its rehydrating effects. The author of this opinion article discusses the shreds of evidence that establish beer as a drink to avoid prior to orthopedic surgery.
Keywords: alcoholic beverages; brewing; calcium; diuresis; fermented foods; hip replacement arthroplasty; orthopedic surgery; physiological phenomena; potassium; sodium.