Patient Education: Knee Replacement

Complications of Knee Replacement Surgery

Most complications that occur after knee replacement are successfully treatable. Possible complications after knee replacement include:

Infections:
Any infection in your body can spread to your joint replacement. Infections may occur while you are in the hospital or after you go home. Minor infections can be treated with antibiotics, while major infections may require surgery and removal of the prosthesis.

Blood Clots:
If there is a severe pain and / or swelling that develops in your calf or thigh, you may have developed a blood clot. Blood clots result from several factors, including decreased mobility that causes a slow movement of the blood through your leg’s veins. Your doctor may take preventative action to reduce the possibility of blood clots, such as blood thinning medications, elastic stockings, exercises that increase the blood flow in the leg muscles, or plastic boots that inflate with air to compress the muscles in your legs. 

Loosening:
Loosening of the prosthesis within the bone may occur after knee replacement. If the loosening is significant and there is a large amount of pain, a revision surgery to correct the loosening may be necessary. 

Wear:
Wear can be found in several joint replacements. Excessive wear can lead to loosening and pain and may require revision surgery. 

Prosthetic Breakage:
Breakage of a knee replacement is extremely rare, but it can occur. If this case does occur, a revision surgery will be needed. 

Nerve Injury:
Nerves in the vicinity of the total joint replacement can be damaged during the total replacement surgery. This type of injury is not common and may often improve and/or completely recover after some time. 

Stiffness:
In some cases, the ability to bend the knee does not return to normal after an artificial knee replacement. Increased scarring after surgery can lead to an increasingly stiff knee. If this occurs, your surgeon may manipulate the knee to regain motion without injuring the joint. 

It is also important to notify your surgeon or nurse if you experience any of the following symptoms:

1) Pain, soreness, swelling, or redness in the calf muscles of either leg.

2) Unexplained, increased pain in the operative area.

3) Redness, swelling, or puslike drainage from the area around the incision

4) Cough, high fever, or chills.

5) Chest pain, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.

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