The effects of operation on the patients who have undergone total knee prothesis

Objective: Objective of the study is to understand the effects of the operation on the patients undergoing total knee prothesis.Method: The descriptive study carried by using a phenomological design was conducted in the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic at Dokuz Eylül University. Seventeen patients who underwent total knee prothesis operation selected via purposeful sampling method constituted the research sample. Data were collected with ?in-depth interview method? by using the ?semi-structured interview form?. All interviews were recorded with tape recorder after written permissions were taken from the patients. Data were analyzed through the content analysis method.Findings: It was determined in the study that effects of the operation on the patients undergoing total knee prothesis emerged in two different phases as pre-operative and post-operative effects. Under the title of pre-operative effects, impacts were detected on the decision taking process of the patient to undergo the operation as well as its psychological and cognitive effects and its physiological, psychological and social impacts. Under the title of post-operative effects, post-operative physiological effects, psychological and cognitive effects of the operation were observed as well as the difficulties experienced during activities.Conclusion and recommendations: Research results revealed that patients were affected by the disease causing operation indication at most in the pre-operative period and this situation accelerated the decision of operation. It was also found out that emotions and opinions of the patients were influenced negatively and positively in the pre-operative and post-operative periods. Accordingly, it is recommended that nurses should consider the psychological preparation in the pre-operative period and should put emphasis on pain control, methods to cope with the physical limitation and discharge education in the post-operative interventions.Key words: Effects of operation, knee prothesis, nursing, qualitative