title: Predicting postoperative urinary retention after lower limb arthroplasty.
abstract: A simple scoring system that enables surgeons to make an estimation of the likelihood of postoperative urinary retention (POUR) in patients undergoing lower limb total joint replacement would be a useful one. This would enable selection of high risk patients who merit pre-operative  catheterisation in a clean theatre environment rather than risking urinary retention and its associated complications late at night on the ward by junior, inexperienced staff.  The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is such a scoring system and we assessed its reliability in predicting  those male patients likely to go into POUR. We selected all male patients undergoing lower limb total joint arthroplasty under spinal anaesthesia and calculated their IPSS. We found a statistically significant increase in the likelihood of POUR as IPSS rises (p = 0.0002). We concluded  that the IPSS is a quick and easy method of predicting those at risk of POUR, allowing them to be catheterised prophylactically, preventing possible complications.
authors.affiliation: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. willkieffer@gmail.com
authors.forename: W K M
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kieffer
authors.forename: T P C
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Kane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*