This is a prospective study to determine if we could identify patients who may benefit from preoperative catheterisation in lower limb arthroplasty.

211 consecutive patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty were recruited. There were 131 female (62%) and 80 male (32%), the mean age (+−1 S.D.) was 68+−12 years old. Patients’ demographic details and pre-operative urinary symptoms were recorded. Previous urological surgery and past history of urinary catherisation were also documented. The anaesthetist who was blinded from the study selected the type of anaesthesia and the post-operative analgesia regime. All patients were required to produce mid-stream urine sample before surgery and at post-operation. Urine tract infection was confirmed on a positive microbiological culture. Regression analysis was used to assess various co-variables to identify the high-risk groups.

35 female (56%) and 27 male (44%) were catheterised, the mean age (+−1 S.D.) was 72+/−14 years old. The frequency of catheterisation was unrelated to the surgical procedure, the type of anaesthesia or the postoperative pain control regime. Age over 65 years old and nocturia were significant indicators for urinary catheterisation (p< 0.05). Patients with urinary incontinence and nocturia were strong determinant for urinary catheterisation (p< 0.03). Males over the age 65 years with a past history of urinary catheterisation (p=0.037) were more likely to be catheterised than females of the same group (p=0.947). This has become more evidential if patients have coexisting urinary incontinence and nocturia (p=0.005). Females over the age of 65 years with urinary incontinence were also significant (p=0.013).

The sensitivity for urinary catheterisation in patients over the age of 65 years with previous history of catheterisation, urinary incontinence or nocturia was 89.7%. This group of patients would benefit from pre-operative urinary catheterisation.