Consenting

Question 1

General consent points?

Answer 1

Small but important risks that you ought to know about:

Bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, scarring, poor bone healing (mal/non/delayed union), pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness/weakness due to damage to nerves/tendons, also risk of damage to blood vessels, failure of operation, need for further surgery, blood clots in legs/heary/lungs/brain, death

Question 2

Cauda equina decompression?

Answer 2

Aim is to prevent deterioration of symptoms
Residual weakness/numbness/bladder/bowel issues

Damage to spinal cord- infection/bleeding/spinal fluid leaking- may need further operation

May reoccur problem

Proning- small risk of blindness/pressure sores

Stroke, paralysis, death

Question 3

TKR/THR?

Answer 3

Dislocation/instability
Fracture during/after
Loosening due to infection/wear
Leg length discrepancies
Squeaking
Revision
Infection/Blood clots

Question 4

Supracondylar fracture

Answer 4

Failure of reduction
Worsening of fracture
Injury to artery/nerves
Pin migration
Pin site infection
Growth arrest/limb discrepancy
Deformity
Removal of metalwork

Question 5

Neck of femur

Answer 5

Medical complications
Death
fracture
dislocation
failure
need for further surgery
infection of metalwork
removal of metalwork

Question 6

Consent for MUA?

Answer 6

Worsening of fracture
Damage to blood vessels/tendons/nerves
numbness/weakness
Failure of operation
Open procedure
Metalwork
Infection
Pain/stiffness

Question 7

Consent for any upper limb fracture

Answer 7

CRPS
Non union
Removal of metalwear