Abstract: Objective To explore nursing for defecation of the patients with hip or knee replacement before and after arthroplasty.Methods 30 patients with selective bilateral hip or knee replacement were observed at different phases, including interval time, duration, score of oneself subject feeling, and rate of negative symptoms.Results ① Interval time and duration of defecation was longer after arthroplasty than before arthroplasty (P<0.05)；The index mentioned above of the second defecation was shorter than the first one(P<0.05). ②The score of oneself subject feeling and rate of negative symptoms were higher after arthroplasty than before arthroplasty(P<0.05); The index mentioned above of the second defecation was lower than the first one(P<0.05).Conclusion Difficult defecation happens to the patients with arthroplasty and the nurse should screen susceptible patients before operation, then highlight the key links and give nursing intervention in order to assist defecation.

Key words: arthroplasty, defecation, nursing