Perioperative nursing of one-stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty for systemic lupus erythematosus patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head

Abstract

Objective To summarize the experience in the perioperative nursing of one-stage bilateral total hip arthroplaaty (THA) for the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH).Methods From June 1998 to April 2007,17 cases of patients who were diagnosed as SLE with bilateral ANFH were treated by one-stage bilateral THA.Perioperative nursing included psychological support,diet control,observation and nursing of various complications,correct functional exercise and health education.Harris score and SF-36 score were evaluated before and after operation.Results There were 2 cases with delayed incision healing,1 with early prosthesis dislocation,1 with thigh pain for 10 months and 1 with acute renal failure postoperatively,which were improved and recovered after proper treatments.Asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in low extremities were detected by color Doppler ultrasonography in 6 cases.There were no pulmonary embolism and no deep infection around prosthesis.There was no Addisonian crisis postoperatively.The pain was relieved and the motion of joint was improved during follow-up.There was no radiological evidence of implant loosening.The Harris hip score and SF-36 score greatly alleviated after operation.All patients were followed up and the mean follow-up time was 28 months.Conclusions One-stage bilateral THA has good results for the patients with SLE and AVNH.Strengthening of perioperative nursing contributed to improvement of success rate of surgery and reduction of complication. Key words: Lupus erythematosus; Necrosis of the femoral head; Hip arthroplasty; Perioperative nursing