Enhancing Patient Comprehension in Orthopaedic Surgery

➢ Patient comprehension in orthopaedic surgery is frequently limited, with substantial gaps between perceived and actual understanding of conditions, procedures, and recovery timelines. ➢ Expectation management is a central communication challenge, as patients often anticipate surgery or outcomes in ways that are unrealistic, directly affecting satisfaction and informed consent. ➢ The EXPLAIN framework provides a structured, orthopaedic-specific approach to improve communication through 7 components: Educate, eXample, Purpose, Language/Learn, Analogy/Articulate, Illustrate, and Navigate. ➢ Evidence supports the use of strategies such as plain language, teach-back, anatomical models, 3-dimensional aids, and structured navigation programs to improve comprehension, reduce anxiety, and lower readmissions. ➢ Implementing EXPLAIN can enhance shared decision-making, reduce communication-related malpractice risk, and improve both patient satisfaction and outcomes.