Journal of Nursing & Care

Prosthetics School Importance of Patient Education Prior to Prosthetic Hip and Knee Surgery

Abstract

R Sanjuan Cervero, N Franco Ferrando, A Valdivia Perez and MR Ivars Tur

Introduction: Discovering the potential benefits of conducting an informative group session prior to prosthetic hip and knee surgery. The contents of this session were agreed upon by Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy and Nursing. The contents and the organizational format for this session at the Hospital de Denia are described. Materials and Methods: Patients awaiting prosthetic knee and hip surgery were randomly divided into two groups. The study group (n=23) was invited to an information session prior to their surgery. The control group (n=23) followed the usual protocol that consist on receiving general information about de procedure in the outpatient clinic. Pain, degree of satisfaction, knee mobility, and start of ambulation and days of hospital stay were recorded. Results: Forty six patients were included. Patients from the study group had a greater degree of satisfaction (100% satisfaction of 9/10), began walking sooner and had a shorter hospital stay than the control group. A rapid decrease in pain was recorded in the study group, reaching levels significantly lower than those of the control group as of the second day. Conclusions: In prosthetic joint surgery, educating patients increases their satisfaction and reduces their hospital stay. Thanks to this study, the prosthetics school has been routinely established in our hospital with a high degree of satisfaction for the patients, family members and professionals involved.