ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore the effect of continuous nursing combined with salcatonin on the improvements of postoperative pain in elderly patients after hip replacement. METHODS: A total of 99 elderly patients treated by hip replacement in our hospital were divided into the control group (CG, n=49, routine nursing + salcatonin) and the study group (SG, n=50, continuous nursing + salcatonin). The visual analogue scale (VAS) during rest (RVAS), VAS during initiative movement (IVAS) and VAS during passive movement = (PVAS) at 3 d, 7 d, 10 d, 14 d and 30 d after operation, the Harris hip score (HHS), Barthel index and geriatric depression scale (GDS) at 1 month after operation, and the incidences of tumble and refracture during the postoperative 6-month follow-up were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In comparison with the CG, except for higher HHS and Barthel index at 1 month after operation (P<0.05), the SG was associated with lower RVAS, IVAS and PVAS at 7 d, 10 d, 14 d and 30 d after operation (P<0.05), lower GDS at 1 month after operation, and lower incidences of tumble and refracture during the 6 months after operation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of continuous nursing and salcatonin has achieved marked effects not only on mitigating the pains at the early stage after a hip replacement in elderly patients, but also on improving their joint functions and reducing the incidences of tumble and refracture in a long run.