The knee joint is important in walking and performing other physical activities that involve the lower extremity. The knee also bears a majority of the body's weight and is susceptible to stress and trauma with use. If the knee is severely damaged, such as through arthritis or a car accident, surgery may be necessary to reduce pain and restore optimum function to the joint. In general, knee surgeries are safe; however, a patient should be aware of possible complications and know what to do if they are experienced.
Infection
According to MayoClinic.com, a knee infection is possible with a knee surgery. An infection is the spread of bacteria from the outside environment into an open wound. Bacteria can spread from the skin, unclean surgical tools or unclean surgeon. The bacteria can then infect the skin, surrounding tissue, knee joint or spread to the entire body. Thus early treatment can reduce the severity of the infection and prevent its spread. A patient should immediately let his doctor know if he experiences excessive pain, redness, warmth or drainage from the surgical site. Signs of a more serious infection include fever, chills and night sweats. A patient should follow the surgeon's pre-operative and post-operative instructions to prevent infection.
Blood Clots
A blood clot can occur after knee surgery states the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, or AAOS. During surgery, blood vessels are damaged, which causes blood clots. Blood clots can form in the veins and cause excessive pain, swelling and redness around the area of the clot. In worse cases, the blood clot can travel through the vein and into the lungs, which causes a pulmonary embolism. This serious complication causes chest pain and difficulty breathing in a patient. Thus, a patient must immediately let his doctor know if he is experiencing any leg pain or breathing problems after surgery.
Nerve Damage
As with all surgeries, nerve damage is a possible complication, states MayoClinic.com. An experienced knee surgeon is aware of the location of the nerves, and will be less likely to cause nerve damage than a less experienced surgeon. Mistakes can occur, however, and patients can have altered anatomical structures that may make nerve damage likely. Nerve damage can cause simple numbness around the area of the damaged nerve, or it may be severe and cause paralysis in the lower extremity. Thus, a patient should immediately tell his doctor of any possible numbness or paralysis after knee surgery.
