PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the occurrences and the factors contributing to constipation in the post surgical period following major orthopedic surgery.
METHODS
The sample included 133 patients who had surgery of the hip, knee, or spine. Patients were excluded from the study if there was a history of bowel surgery or constipation from chart review. Data were collected using questionnaires such as Korean version of Modified Barthel index (K-MBI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) before surgery and on the third postoperative day.
RESULTS
Reports of constipation occurred in 77 instances (57.9%). The first reported defecation was within 4.0±2.2 days following surgery. Mean days of first defecation of constipation group vs. non-constipation group was 5.5±1.7 days vs. 2.1±1.0 days. There were statistically significant differences between patients who reported than those who did not in terms of age, length of NPO period, postoperative ADL, and the reported incidents of preoperative and postoperative depressive symptoms. Postoperative ADL, age, and NPO period were significant influencing factors of constipation and explained 52.4% of the variance.
CONCLUSION
Constipation is a very common symptom for patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. These results indicate a need for improving patient's ADL after surgery to prevent constipation.

Citations

• The effect of kinesiophobia on gastrointestinal disorders in patients with lower extremity orthopedic surgery
  Huseyin Gunes, Semra Bulbuloglu, Serdar Saritas, Ahmet Ozdemir
  Frontiers in Surgery.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Efficacy of an Iranian herbal medicine formula for postoperative constipation in trauma patients with hip and lower limb fractures: A triple-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial
  Rezvan Ghafarzadegan, Mohammadreza Zarei, Nahid Norouzi, Neda Mirbagher Ajorpaz, Seyedeh Mahsa Lotfi, Sayyed Mehdi Rasooli Manesh, Hossein Akbari, AliReza Abedi
  International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing.2025; 57: 101163.     CrossRef
• A Common Complication in Orthopedic Patients: Postoperative Constipation and Related Risk Factors
  Hesna G..rler, Fatma Tok Y..ld..z, Fatma Bekmez
  Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing.2023; 38(5): e15.     CrossRef
• Constipation After Elective Laparoscopy for Benign Gynecological Indications–A Prospective Observational Study
  Paul Berlund, Charlotte Reddington, Claudia Cheng, Martin Healey
  Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology.2023; 30(10): 827.     CrossRef
• Prevalence of Constipation and related Factors in Patients with Lower Extremity Fracture Surgery
  Ok-Hee Cho, Hyerim Seo, Jeongeun Yoon
  The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing.2023; 26(1): 8.     CrossRef
• Effect of Acupressure and Abdominal Massage on Constipation in Patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Study
  Mahinur Durmuş İskender, Nurcan Çalışkan
  Clinical Nursing Research.2022; 31(3): 453.     CrossRef
• Randomized Controlled Trial of a Natural Food-Based Fiber Solution to Prevent Constipation in Postoperative Spine Fusion Patients
  Deborah Wittig-Wells, Pam Sapp, Melinda Higgins, Erica Davis, Jessica Carter, Ani Jacob
  Orthopaedic Nursing.2019; 38(6): 367.     CrossRef
• Opioid induced constipation management in orthopaedic and trauma patients: treatment and the potential of nurse-initiated management
  Olivia Sonneborn, Thuy Bui
  International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing.2019; 34: 16.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of meridian acupressure on constipation in bed-ridden aged inpatients. METHODS: The research design was a non-synchronized non-equivalent control group pretestposttest design. The subjects consisted of 28 bed-ridden aged inpatients. Meridian acupressure was administered to the experimental group at 30 minutes before breakfast every morning for two weeks. Each meridian was pressured for 10 seconds, 10 times. The frequency of defecation and stool form were examined every day. The data was analyzed by the chi-square-test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: The experimental group given Meridian Acupressure had a higher frequency of defecation(F = 59.372, p = .000) and normal stool(F = 46.046, p = .000) than the control group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that Meridian Acupressure was an effective method for the relief of constipation for bed-ridden aged inpatients. A follow -up research is needed to validate that other patients with constipation can use the Meridian Acupressure as a non-invasive nursing intervention instead of a laxative or enema.

PURPOSE
It was investigated if abdominal meridian massage has effects on constipation in institutionalized psychiatric patients taking antipsychotic drugs.
METHODS
According to the constipation screening tests, 22 patients were selected as subjects. One group pre and post repeated measurement design was used. Constipation was operationalized as perceived constipation, frequency of defecation, frequency of bowel sound, and number of medicine taken to relieve constipation. Abdominal meridian massage was given for two weeks, 10-15 minutes each time and 10 times in total.
RESULTS
Perceived constipation, frequency of bowel sound, and number of medicine taken were significantly improved after massage. Except for number of medicine taken, the effects on perceived constipation and frequency of bowel sound were found to be persistent 2 weeks after massage.
CONCLUSION
Based upon these results, abdominal meridian massage was recommended as independent nursing intervention for the relief of constipation in psychiatric patients who taking anti-psychotic drugs. Further studies to investigate the maximal duration time of effects and whether the effects of intermittent application of this method is more beneficial than the continuous application of this method are necessary.

PURPOSE
This study was aimed at identifying the effect of meridian acupressure on decreasing the severity of constipation in stroke patients admitted to the intensive care unit.
METHOD
The data was collected from June 1 to July 30, 2005 at D Hospital in Busan. They were divided into two group: one experimental group of 18, and the another control group of 17. Meridian acupressure was given to the experimental group and no meridian acupressure was given to the control group. The data was analyzed using the t-test, chi-square-test, Fisher exact, and repeated measures ANCOVA.
RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in frequency of defecation and severity of constipation in the experimental group compared to the control group.
CONCLUSION
Meridian acupressure can be considered an effective nursing method for the management of constipation among Cerebro-vascular Accident patients.

PURPOSE
The purposes of this study were to develope and evaluate a constipation intervention program for inpatients. METHOD: To develope this program, Six phases were processed including the organization of team, the analysis of medical chart, the development of tentative constipation intervention program, the test of content validity, the test of clinical validity and the determination of final constipation intervention program. To evaluate the clinical validity of this program, 10 subjects who were in the C University Hospital were selected from March, 2001 to October, 2001. RESULT: The clinical validity was supplied by the pilot test, showing the potential effect of the program. Based on the validity results the final algorithm and the form of nursing record for this program which consist of the 3-step assessments and the intervention protocol were presented in this study. CONCLUSION: The advantage of this program is being able to assess and manage constipation simultaneously and is especially effective to patients who are at risk for developing constipation during their admission. Further study needs are also necessary to evaluate the effect of this program on the self-symptom of constipation.