Patient Expectations and Satisfaction With Foot and Ankle Surgery in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract The success of surgery is associated not only with the quality of the procedure but also with the degree to which it meets the patient’s expectations. Limited data are available on patient expectations related to foot and ankle surgery in Saudi Arabia. Our study assessed the preoperative expectations and postoperative satisfaction of patients who had undergone foot and ankle surgery at 1 hospital in Saudi Arabia. A survey-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted among patients who had undergone elective foot or ankle surgery at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Riyadh, from January 2010 to December 2015. The participants, who were randomly selected, were interviewed by telephone in April 2016. The average interval between the surgery and the telephone interview was 1 year. We performed stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the predictors of patient satisfaction with surgery. A total of 383 participants were interviewed (51.7% male). The sample included participants with a wide age range. Most participants had undergone surgery because of pain (74.9%) or movement difficulties (37.1%); only 9.4% had undergone surgery for cosmetic reasons. Most (80%) of the participants reported they were satisfied with the surgical results. Young age, bilateral surgery, efficient pain control, and fulfilled expectations had the greatest positive effects on satisfaction. The findings of the present study will help improve our understanding of the expectations of patients who undergo elective foot and ankle surgery in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, our results can give orthopedic surgeons insight into patients' ideas and concerns regarding their surgery, which might ultimately improve communication between surgeons and patients.