Abstract
To assess whether by improving patient’s knowledge about the wrist arthroscopy procedure would positively affect the amount of postoperative pain. We tested the effect of a fact sheet that contained detailed information about the procedure on the outcome of such a surgery.
Fifty-five patients undergoing diagnostic wrist arthroscopy were randomly allocated into 2 groups. Group 1 included 28 patients to whom an explanatory form named fact sheet was provided prior to the procedure. 27 patients in the second group did not have the fact sheet. However both groups had the usual preoperative verbal instructions during consenting and all patients had Visual analogue scale pain assessment before surgery. Pain scores were recorded over a 10 day period postoperatively, the end point being the day on which the patient returned to the preoperative pain status.
There were 34 females and 21 males with 47 right and eight left wrists but all were the dominant side. The mean age of the patients was 35 years (range of 16 to 54 years).
In the first 48 hours all patients had flare up of pain in their wrists but by day five, 75% of patients who had the fact sheet, recovered to their preoperative pain status whereas only 22% of patients in the control group had done so. Furthermore, Patients in group 1 resumed their routine daily activities on average three days earlier (day seven) when compared to the control group in whom this return was not complete up to day 10.
Supplying a fact sheet prior to wrist arthroscopy has a positive influence in terms of decreasing the preoperative pain score and reducing the time patients required off work. Given the clear benefits demonstrated by this simple manoeuvre, it is now our practice to provide such a fact sheet to all patients.
Correspondence should be addressed to Editorial Secretary Mr ML Costa or Assistant Editorial Secretary Mr B.J. Ollivere at BOA, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE, England; Email: mattcosta@hotmail.com or ben@ollivere.co.uk
