Effects of perioperative warm socks‐wearing in maintaining core body temperature of patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Aims and objectives: To investigate whether warming the feet with socks would prevent hypothermia among patients undergoing spinal surgery. Background: Perioperative hypothermia is a common health problem among spinal surgery patients. Research design: This study used a quasi‐experimental design. Methods: Seventy‐two patients were assigned to two groups. The control group (<italic>n</italic> = 36) received usual care without the warmed socks. The intervention group (<italic>n</italic> = 36) received usual care plus warmed socks during operation and recovery period. Data were collected during (180 min) and after the surgery (30 min) during the period of 7 February–10 April 2015. Core body temperature, shivering response and subjective thermal comfort of the two groups were compared over time using the repeated‐measures ANOVA. Results: The oesophageal temperature of the socks‐wearing group was maintained between 36.36–36.45°C during surgery (mean = 36.41 ± 0.03, 95% CI = 36.34–36.47), whereas that of the control was between 35.75–35.97°C (mean = 35.98 ± 0.03, 95% CI = 35.92–36.04). The tympanic temperature in the recovery room of the socks‐wearing group was between 36.28–36.38°C (mean = 36.37 ± 0.04, 95% CI = 36.29–36.45) and that of the control group was 35.90–36.04°C (mean = 35.95 ± 0.04, 95% CI = 35.88–36.05). Shivering response of the intervention group (mean = 0.04 ± 0.08, 95% CI = −0.13 to 0.21) was significantly lower than that of the control group (mean = 0.47 ± 0.08, 95% CI = 0.30–0.64) in the recovery room (<italic>F</italic> = 4.28, <italic>p </italic><<italic> </italic>.001). As for subjective thermal comfort, the intervention group (mean = 4.86 ± 0.13, 95% CI = 4.62–5.13) was significantly lower than that of the control group (mean = 3.08 ± 0.13, 95% CI = 2.82–3.33) in the recovery room (<italic>F</italic> = 98.13, <italic>p </italic><<italic> </italic>.001). As for the frequency of pethidine medication, the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control (χ2 = 5.14, <italic>p </italic>=<italic> </italic>.023). Conclusion: The use of perioperative warmed socks for spinal surgery patients was effective in maintaining perioperative core temperature, preventing shivering and maintaining subjective thermal comfort. Relevance to clinical practice: Considering cost‐effectiveness of warmed socks, it might be worth trying option for the maintenance of core temperature in spinal surgery patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]