Journal of Clinical Nursing 1993; 2: 41-45 Pain in elderly orthopaedic patients Jf: .- ' I i J . ; , 5. , , I S. J O S £ C L O S S BSe(Hons), MPhil, PhD, RGN Research Eellom, Nursing Re.varch Unit. Department of Nursing Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK ' HELEN L. FAIRTLOUGHBSc(Hons), RGN Research .Associate, Nursing Research Unit, Department of Nursing Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK ALISON J. TIERNEY BSc, PhD, RGN Director, Nursing Research Unit, Department of Nursing Studies, University of Edinburgh, C O L I N T . C U R R I E RD, BSc, MB, ChB, FRCPE Consultant Geriatrician, City Hospital, Edinburgh, UK Accepted Jor publication 10 September 1992 Summary • This paper focuses on one aspect of a study of elderly orthopaedic patients, namely pain control. • One-hundred patients aged 70 years and over were interviewed on up to five oeeasions during admission to an acute orthopaedic unit. • The majority of patients had significant post-operative and/or post-trauma pain, and backache and joint pain were reported frequently. • None of the patients received more than half of the maximum prescribed number of doses of opioid analgesics over a period of 48 h following surgery. • The well-reeognized problem of inadequate pain relief among hospital in- patients is discussed, in particular its relevance to elderly orthopaedie patients. Keywords: pain, elderly peoples' pain, orthopaedie pain. f) JiMlii.r' r;.- Ir liru.',; 1 ,t|ir)ili.q !i ;/T:I tih Introduction Although it is commonly acknowledged that post-opera- tive pain control is often inadequate in hospital, the extent Correspondence: Dr S.J. Closs, Nursing Research Unit, Department of Nursing St tidies. University of Edinburgh, 12 Buccleuch Place, Edin- burgh EHS9LW, UK This research was funded by the Chief Scientist Oftice of the SOHHD. The views e.xpressed in this paper are the authors' and do not necessarily reflect those of the funding body. of this problem for elderly patients is poorly documented. Patients who have sustained hip fractures comprise one such group at risk of acute post-operative pain. This group is of particular importance beeause it is expanding rapidly. Orthopaedic units are admitting increasing numbers of elderly people following injury each year and it has been suggested that the numbers admitted following major injury is likely to continue to rise well into the next eentury (Whitaker & Currie, 1988). Although the wider aim of the present study (Currie & 41