Complications Of Total Knee Replacements

Knee replacement surgery can result in physical complications ranging from pain and swelling to implant rejection infection and bone fractures.

Complications of total knee replacements.

During primary total knee replacement the knee joint is replaced with an implant or prosthesis made of metal and plastic components. Even with appropriate steps sometimes infections still occur. It s normal for patients to experience some degree of pain up to six months after surgery. However doing special exercises or physical therapy can help resolve this.

Infection is a severe complication and it needs immediate medical attention. Surgical site bleeding pulmonary embolism or death during the index admission or within 30 days of admission. While rare injury to the nerves or blood vessels around the knee can occur during surgery. Stiffness or arthrofibrosis is one of the more common complications after knee replacement surgery.

Knee replacement infections are generally separated into early and late infections. Total knee replacement complications stiffness knee replacement problems stiffness and knee replacement complications swelling are most common complications after a knee replacement surgery. A small number of patients continue to have pain after a knee replacement. Blood clots occurring in deep veins or deep vein thrombosis dvt are a potential complication of knee replacement surgery.

This complication is rare however and most patients experience excellent pain relief following knee replacement. It occurs when scar tissue forms in the knee and limits movement of the new joint. Left untreated a blood clot can break free from the vein wall a life threatening condition known as pulmonary embolism. Mechanical complications or periprosthetic joint infection wound infection during the index admission or within 90 days of admission.

Infection after knee replacement surgery is the most feared complication of most patients and surgeons. According to healthline s analysis of medicare. Pain may be the most common complication following knee replacement. When caught in time pulmonary embolism is treatable with anti clotting medication.

Scar tissue or other complications can sometimes affect motion of the knee.