• Margareta Warrén Stomberg and Ulla-Britt Oman.
• University of Skövde, School of Life Sciences, Sweden. margareta.warren.stomberg@his.se
• J Clin Nurs. 2006 Apr 1;15(4):451-8.

AimThe aim was to evaluate patient's perioperative pain experience after total hip replacement and patients' satisfaction with pain management.BackgroundTotal hip arthroplasty is a common surgical procedure intended to reduce pain and return patients to better function. Realistic expectations about total hip arthroplasty is important for optimal postoperative recovery and the information must be adapted to fit the individual patient.MethodsA descriptive design was used comparing patients outcome data. Pitman's test was used for statistical analyses. Adult patients (n = 112) undergoing surgical hip replacement procedures answered a 17-item questionnaire on the fourth postoperative day. The questionnaire included given alternatives and visual analogue scales (0-100 mm) for the pain assessment.ResultThe patients' postoperative pain experience after hip replacement surgery was in average low, 33.1 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Patient's pain experience was reported to be highest on the first postoperative day for most of the patients. The preoperative pain experience tends to be higher than the postoperative pain experience. Older patients reported less average pain level postoperatively. Satisfaction with pain management was high.ConclusionThe pain experience tends to be higher preoperatively than postoperatively. Patients who reported a higher pain experience postoperatively reported that their pain experience was significant higher than preoperative expected.Relevance To PracticeIt is important for the postoperative outcome measure that the patients have a realistic expectation of pain experiences after total hip arthroplasty. The nurse is one of the staff members responsible for information to the individual patient.

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