Korean J Rehabil Nurs.  2023 Jun;26(1):8-17. 10.7587/kjrehn.2023.8.

Prevalence of Constipation and related Factors in Patients with Lower Extremity Fracture Surgery

• Cho OH
• Seo H
• Yoon J

• KMID: 2544484
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7587/kjrehn.2023.8

Abstract

Purpose
This study was conducted to identify the incidence of constipation and factors related to constipation in patients with lower extremity fracture surgery.
Methods
The subjects were 84 patients who underwent lower extremity fracture surgery at a university hospital. Data were collected using questionnaires before surgery and on the third postoperative day. Data were analyzed by Descriptive statistics, t-test, and x ²-test, Fisher‘s exact test.
Results
The incidence of postoperative constipation in lower extremity fracture patients was 33.3%. The occurrence of constipation was determined by gender (x ² =6.94, p=.008), age (t=-2.50, p=.014), number of prehospital defecation (p=.043), daily fluid intake (t=2.26, p=.027), anesthesia type (p=.003), NPO period (t=-3.71, p<.001), use of patient controlled analgesia (x ² =4.06,p=.044), foley catheterization (x ² =4.20, p=.040), and the number of laxatives used after surgery (p=.006).
Conclusion
Constipation in lower limb fracture surgery patients was confirmed to be related to prehospital related factors as well as general characteristics and postoperative related factors. Therefore, it is necessary for nurses to recognize the factors that cause postoperative constipation in patients with lower extremity fractures and to plan patient-centered comfort nursing interventions through early assessment.

Keyword

Constipation; Fractures; Lower extremity; Patients; Surgery