[Patient information and informed consent in orthopaedic surgery: is it possible?]

Informed consent of the patient is a prerequisite for all surgical intervention. However, there is no consensus as to the quantity, manner and type of information that must be transmitted to the patient before an operation. Traditionally the patient receives information orally, but it is estimated that half of the information given by the physician is forgotten after 6 weeks. More and more complementary written documents have been proposed, but often they are beyond the understanding of the patient. Thus, other approaches are necessary. The models of communication that favor the partnership offer the best compromise between the principles of patient autonomy and that which benefits the treatment, allowing the patient to make the best decision.