A Common Complication in Orthopedic Patients: Postoperative Constipation and Related Risk Factors

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of postoperative constipation and risk factors in orthopedic patients. Design A descriptive model was used. Methods A total of 140 patients who underwent surgical intervention in the Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic were included in the present study. The Descriptive Characteristics Form, Constipation Risk Assessment Scale, and Visual Analog Scale were used to collect the study data. Frequencies, percentages, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman Correlation tests were used to evaluate the data. Findings In the present study, 72.1% of the individuals experienced constipation during the hospitalization period, and the constipation risk score was 12.77.á...á4.83. Those who were female, over 65 years old, unemployed, had lower extremity surgery, used opioid analgesics, were dependent on their activities, had prehospital constipation, had a chronic disease, and used drugs regularly had higher constipation risk scores at statistically significant levels. A significant correlation was detected between the constipation risk score and age, pain severity, hospital stay, time to first defecation after surgery, and the amount of fluid consumed daily. Conclusions The majority of the individuals experienced constipation during the hospitalization period, and the constipation risk score was moderate. Those who were female, had advanced age, were unemployed, had high pain severity, opioid use, previous constipation, chronic disease, regular medication, long hospital stay, those whose first defecation period was prolonged after the surgery and whose fluid intake was insufficient had a higher risk of constipation. In this regard, nurses must evaluate orthopedic patients in terms of constipation risk factors and apply nondrug methods that prevent and relieve constipation with laxatives.