Total Knee Replacement
Complications
The risks and complications of a knee replacement include:
- Infection. This may require antibiotics, further surgery and possibly the new knee joint to be removed, and possible the leg amputation. Wound infection in about 1 in 100 people Infection is a major complication and may require further surgery and possibly the new knee joint to be removed and possibly the leg amputated. Infection to the prosthesis via the bloodstream in the following years after replacement surgery. The knee joint may have to be removed.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism. Blood clots can form in the legs. The clots can break off and travel to the lungs and can cause death. Blood clots can form in the legs. If untreated, this can happen in 1 in 5 peoplei. The clots can break off and travel to the lungs in 1 in 100 people, and can cause death in 1 in 3,000ii people
- Wear and Tear. The artificial joint may fail or wear out. Surgical revision of the knee joint replacement may be required. The artificial joint will loosen or wear out This can happen over a period but 9 out of ten knee joint replacements are still working after 10 yearsvi. Surgical revision of the knee joint replacement may be required.
- Dislocation of the knee joint The knee joint/patella can dislocate because muscles and ligaments have not yet repaired themselves to provide support to the joint. Re-operation is required.
- Numbness. Numbness at the side of the cut can happen. This may be temporary or permanent. Numbness at the side of the cut can happen This may be temporary or permanent.
- Nerve damage. Damage to the peroneal nerve around the knee during surgery. This may be temporary or permanent. Further surgery may be necessary. Damage to the nerves may cause a burning pain and inability to straighten the leg. A nerve block may be used to relieve the pain and the leg manipulated. Numbness/ paralysis of the foot. Damage to the peroneal nerve around the knee during surgery in 1 in 300 peoplevii. This may be temporary or permanent. Further surgery may be necessary.
- Stiffness. Stiffening of the knee after the surgery causing difficulty in walking and sitting and pain on movement. Manipulation and possibly further surgery may be required. Stiffening of the knee causing difficulty in walking and sitting and pain on movement in 1 in 60 peoplex. Manipulation and possibly further surgery.
- Fracture. The bones around the joint may break during or after surgery. A plaster may be required to repair the break or further surgery may be required. The bones around the joint may break during or after surgery. This can occur in 1 in 40 to 1 in 300iv cases depending on bone strength. A plaster may be required to repair the break or further surgery may be required.
- Patella Fracture. The kneecap may break The kneecap may break in 1 in 650 people.v Further surgery may be required to repair the knee cap.
- Damage to blood vessels. Damage to the blood vessel behind the knee during surgery. Surgery on the blood vessel will be needed and sometimes leg amputation. Loss of blood supply to the leg Damage to the blood vessel behind the kneeviii in 1 in 300 to 1 in 500 people. Surgery on the blood vessel, and sometimes leg amputation
- Scar. In some people, healing of the wound may be abnormal and the wound can be thickened and red and the scar may be painful.
- Death. Death is extremely rare due to knee replacement
- Infection around the prosthesis years later Infection can spread to the replaced joint via the bloodstream for years after replacement surgery (1 in 300 people)xi. The knee joint may have to be removed. To prevent this, you will need antibiotics before other procedures and dental workxii
- Smokers. Increased risk in smokers. Smoking slows wound healing and affects the heart, lungs and circulation. Giving up smoking before operation will help reduce the risk. An increased risk of wound infection, chest infection, heart and lung complications, thrombosis
25 April, 2012