Knee Replacement Surgery: Understanding Potential Complications

Knee replacement surgery is used to treat chronic knee pain, inflammation, deformity and stiffness that cannot be relieved with pain medications. Most of the time, surgeons perform knee replacement surgery on adults between the ages of 60 and 80, and complications are uncommon. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, fewer than 2 percent of patients who undergo knee replacement surgery experience complications.

Blood Clots

• People who have undergone knee replacement surgery are at increased risk for blood clots in the legs (also known as thrombophlebitis) or lungs (known as pulmonary embolism). To avoid this complications, surgeons recommend that patients keep the legs elevated, do exercises to improve circulation and wear support hose. People who have knee replacement surgery also need to take blood-thinning medications to reduce the risk of this complication.

Infection

• Infection is another common complication after knee replacement surgery. Patients who undergo dental work or develop urinary tract or skin infections may have bacteria enter the bloodstream and infect the area surrounding the newly replaced joint, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. To prevent this complication, doctors will prescribe antibiotics after surgery.

Wear and Loosening

• It's rare, but the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases notes that patients may find that the components of the knee joint wear out more quickly than expected or become loose (especially if a person falls unexpectedly). This complication may require additional surgery.

Scar Tissue

• Sometimes scar tissue may build up around the knee after surgery, which can restrict a patient's range of motion.

Injury to Nerves and Blood Vessels

• Surgical techniques for knee replacement surgery have improved over the years, but a patient's nerves and blood vessels may be damaged during the course of surgery. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that this complication is very rare.