A full knee surgery, or a total knee replacement, is a significant operation that can provide relief for patients with severe arthritis, knee trauma or other health conditions that require a knee replacement. A total knee replacement involves removing the old knee and replacing it with an artificial knee made of plastics and titanium. Although this type of surgery can be beneficial, patients should be aware of serious complications that may occur after surgery.
Infection
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a knee joint infection may be a complication after a total knee replacement. This occurs because the skin around the knee, surgical tools or surgeons may carry bacteria that can infect the knee joint. Signs of a knee joint infection include excessive pain, drainage from the surgical site and excessive swelling. Although this can be a serious complication of a total knee replacement, the AAOS states that this only occurs in 2 percent of cases. A patient who is experiencing signs of a knee joint infection should immediately let his surgeon know to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body.
Blood Clots
MayoClinic.com states that a blood clot may form during or after total knee replacement surgery. Furthermore, blood clots in the leg veins are reported to be the most common complication during knee replacement surgery. Thus, preventive measures are taken to reduce this risk. The surgeon may recommend frequent leg elevation, lower leg exercises to improve circulation, medications to thin the blood or compression stockings. Adherence to these recommendations has shown to decrease the risk of blood clots developing in the legs. Signs of a blood clot include excessive pain, redness and swelling in the lower leg. Therefore, a patient must not hesitate in letting her surgeon know that she is experiencing signs of a blood clot.
Implant Loosening
Although technology is quite advanced in implant designs and surgical techniques, loosening of the implant may occur immediately after the surgery or years after the surgery. This occurs over time with wear and tear of the implant. In addition, human bone changes in density over time, which may contribute to implant loosening. To prevent implant loosening, a patient must be sure to adhere to the surgeon's recommended rehabilitation program and lifestyle activities. A patient should immediately contact his surgeon if he begins to notice loosening of his artificial knee joint.
