Dietary fiber and laxation in postop orthopedic patients.

The addition of wheat fiber in the diet of post-surgical orthopedic patients as a means of preventing constipation was studied using a quasi-experimental design. It was hypothesized that a 20 gm supplement of All Bran and natural bran would promote spontaneous bowel movements, reduce the incidence of constipation, and thus decrease the need for elimination interventions. The results show that the study group had more spontaneous bowel movements and required fewer elimination interventions than did the control group.