International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing最新文献

Background

There is significant interest in the use of complementary therapies to control or reduce the severity of constipation.

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of abdominal massage on the severity of constipation in elderly patients with fractures.

Methods

In this randomized clinical trial, 60 elderly patients admitted to an Iranian orthopedic referral hospital who were suffering from constipation were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. For the intervention group, abdominal massage was performed for 3 days, twice a day, for 15 minutes. Both groups were assessed using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) and the Bristol Stool Scale (BSS).

Results

A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in BSS scores (p < 0.05). The mean CAS scores in the intervention group decreased from 10.74 to 4.51 after intervention and in the control group, it decreased from 10.20 to 7.37. There was a statistically significant difference in CAS scores between the two groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The results of the study showed the positive effect of abdominal massage on stool consistency and reduction of severity constipation.

With the elderly population living longer and 'baby boomer's now reaching the age of 65, there is great concern regarding a lack of diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a well-known problem, yet there continue to be gaps regarding screening and treatment. An orthopaedic practice in the Southeastern United States specializing in bone health has an internal Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) that was not being fully utilized by the providers. A quality improvement project was implemented following the recommended FLS guidelines to identify individuals that should receive referral to the FLS. Chart audits were completed to analyze both pre- and post-implementation phases. An alert button was introduced into the electronic health record to prompt orthopaedic surgeons to refer to the FLS clinic when individuals met the requirements of age and a first-time fragility fracture. Descriptive data showed 5% FLS referrals in 2019. After implementation of the alert button the FLS referrals for 2020 were 19%, providing a 14% overall improvement rate. Evidence supports using standardized screening processes and that referring to an FLS is best practice for improving the treatment of osteoporosis and for decreasing morbidity, mortality, and health care cost.

Patient counselling is a key function in nursing. High-quality counselling promotes adherence to treatment and reduces complications. The purpose of the study was to describe the quality of counselling experienced by total knee arthroplasty patients following surgery.

The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The data were collected from patients following total knee arthroplasty (N = 60) in 2016 with a modified Quality of Counselling Instrument, and analysed using statistical methods.

Over half of the patients (58%) were women and the mean age was 68 years (range 49–84). Over a quarter of patients (28.9%) lived alone, and about two-thirds were overweight (42.1%), or obese (31.6%). After surgery, many patients (88%) experienced moderate pain.

Half of patients (52.6%) received a good quality of counselling for the disease and its treatment, and counselling for recovery from treatment (81.6%) was good. Most patients (92.1%) received satisfactory counselling about physical activity. There was a correlation between the disease and its treatment counselling and quality of life (r = −0.553, p = 0.003) and pain (r = −0657, p = 0.000). Interaction during counselling was good (97.4%) and it was implemented in a patient-centred way (89.5%).

High-quality counselling implemented in a patient-centred manner can play a part in reducing pain and increasing patients' quality of life.

As the world population ages, a higher proportion of older and frailer patients will sustain fragility fractures. Considering their depleted physiologic reserve and potentially different goals of care at their stage in life, these patients; especially those enrolled in hospice care, with profound dementia, or at end-of-life care; may not benefit from traditional surgical methods of fracture care. Non-operative treatment using standard immobilization or casting techniques in older and frailer patients can still render them susceptible to complications and adverse events. Here we describe our alternative non-operative treatment method of creative bracing to address the needs of this specific population. Creative bracing can be done with simple supplies available in almost all healthcare settings. Through patient-specific pre-treatment assessment, a creative brace tailored to the patient's risk factors and goals of care can be designed to provide sufficient fracture immobilization and comfort. Creative bracing is a low-cost, low-technical demand modality for non-operative treatment of some fragility fractures. Its benefit can be appreciated to greatest effect in the frailest patients for whom standard, surgical treatment does not represent best care.