A patient with Paget disease asks why a dose of zoledronic acid (Reclast) is being provided before having total hip replacement surgery. How should the nurse respond to this patient?

Question

Select all that apply.

1. "It is to treat your osteoporosis."
2. "It prevents a postoperative infection."
3. "It speeds healing of the surgical wound."
4. "It slows the progression of the Paget disease."
5. "It reduces the amount of bleeding from surgery."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 4, 5
Excessive operative bleeding is a risk in Paget disease due to increased vascularity of affected bone. Pretreatment with a potent bisphosphonate reduces disease activity prior to surgery and decreases the risk of excessive operative blood loss. A bisphosphonate before surgery in the patient with Paget disease is not provided to treat osteoporosis. Antibiotics are used to treat infection. The bisphosphonate will not speed the healing of the surgical wound.