119 trauma patients were included in a randomized trial to assess to patients ability to recall risks following informed consent. Patients either received structured verbal information or structured verbal information with supplementary written information about risks when consent for surgery was obtained. Recall of risk an average of 3.2 day following surgery was significantly improved in the verbal and written information group when compared with the verbal information group alone. Patient satisfaction was also improved and most patients in both groups preferred the verbal and written information method.