The hydroxyapatite orbital implant: post-operative pain.
OBJECTIVE
To compare and quantify the degree of post-operative pain experienced by patients undergoing primary and secondary hydroxyapatite orbital implantation.


METHODS
A prospective survey design was employed to monitor patients' pain pre-operatively and up to 7 days post-operatively. Fifty-five consecutive patients undergoing primary and secondary hydroxyapatite orbital implantation were recruited over a period of 1 year. Standardised anaesthetic, operative and post-operative protocols were followed. During the patients' in-patient stay nurses completed a data proforma that required them to record patients' pain using an 11-item numerical rating scale. A self-completion proforma was given to patients to score their pain at home until the first post-operative out-patient appointment.


RESULTS
Patients undergoing primary implant surgery tend to experience more post-operative pain than those undergoing secondary implant surgery. A small proportion of patients experience severe post-operative pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Post-operative pain experienced by patients undergoing primary and secondary hydroxyapatite implantation has been underestimated. This study has provided the necessary data to enable such patients to be effectively counselled pre-operatively and to plan a rational discharge policy.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017886:Durapatite; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020273:Orbital Implants; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors