title: Evaluation of pain and disability in plug repair with the aid of a personal digital assistant.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the method of real-time data collection using a hand-held personal digital assistant (PDA) in the operating suite, hospital, and office. The technique for the placement of a round Atrium ProLite self-forming, layered polypropylene plug in 155 hernia repairs is described. The study measured postoperative pain by the number of pills used (6.6) and categorizes patient return to work according to sedentary, manual, and standing with an average return to work time of 15.6 days for unilateral repair and 20.4 days for bilateral repair. Return to normal daily activity was within 22.3 days for unilateral- and 28.5 days for bilateral repair.
authors.affiliation: haroldsgold@aol.com
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rabaza
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Verdeja
mesh_terms: D034201:Computers, Handheld; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013997:Time Factors