The hydroxyapatite orbital implant: post-operative pain

To compare and quantify the degree of post-operative pain experienced by patients undergoing primary and secondary hydroxyapatite orbital implantation.

A prospective survey design was employed to monitor patients' pain pre-operatively and up to 7 days post-operatively. Fifty-five consecutive patients undergoing primary and secondary hydroxyapatite orbital implantation were recruited over a period of 1 year. Standardised anaesthetic, operative and post-operative protocols were followed. During the patients' in-patient stay nurses completed a data proforma that required them to record patients' pain using an 11-item numerical rating scale. A self-completion proforma was given to patients to score their pain at home until the first post-operative out-patient appointment.

Patients undergoing primary implant surgery tend to experience more post-operative pain than those undergoing secondary implant surgery. A small proportion of patients experience severe post-operative pain.

Post-operative pain experienced by patients undergoing primary and secondary hydroxyapatite implantation has been underestimated. This study has provided the necessary data to enable such patients to be effectively counselled pre-operatively and to plan a rational discharge policy.