Communication and consent practices in orthopaedic implant surgeries: A multi-centre cross-sectional study from India

Effective communication and informed consent are essential components of patient safety and satisfaction in orthopaedic implant surgeries. However, real-world data on the quality of communication practices across Indian healthcare institutions remain limited.

This multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted across 16 private and semi-government hospitals in India. A structured 17-item questionnaire was administered to 200 patients who underwent orthopaedic implant surgeries. The survey assessed key domains including informed consent, implant-related information, surgical site verification, infection control practices, pain management, privacy, discharge documentation, and post-operative rehabilitation counselling. Content validity of the questionnaire was established using expert evaluation.

Overall, high levels of patient satisfaction were observed across most domains, including informed consent (96.1%), infection control practices (96.1%), post-operative pain management (97.8%), and privacy during hospital stay (99.1%). However, gaps were identified in patient involvement in surgical site marking (84.3%) and provision of implant-related details in discharge summaries, including implant brand and batch number (73.5%). Variability in communication practices was observed across hospital sizes and surgical procedures.

While communication and consent practices in Indian orthopaedic implant surgeries are generally satisfactory, significant deficiencies persist in surgical site verification and implant documentation. These represent critical, modifiable system-level gaps that can be addressed through standardized communication protocols and checklist-based interventions to further enhance patient safety and satisfaction.