['Raised blood pressure is a significant surgical risk factor. Post operative complications are worse in both orthopaedic and plastic patients when there is associated hypertension. There has not been any known study on blood pressure variables in patients presenting at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, Nigeria. This informed the need for the authors to evaluate the blood pressure correlates in patients presenting at this hospital.', 'Patients attending the outpatient clinics of the hospital, between June 2003 and September 2004, were recruited into the study. Their biodata, demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded under standard conditions. Their blood pressure awareness indices, lifestyle habits and co-morbid conditions were evaluated. Structured questionnaires were used with self administered screening done.', 'Two hundred and eighteen patients with mean age 41.4 (+/- 17.2) years, were screened, Fifty three percent of them were hypertensive, with 87% of these presenting as orthopaedic cases. While 68% irregularly or never checked their blood pressure, those who took alcohol had 54.5% among them, with hypertension.'] Does blood pressure correlate in orthopaedic and plastic patients at a regional orthopaedic hospital in Nigeria?