What Are the Dangers of Knee Replacement?

Knee replacement surgery, although generally a very safe surgical procedure, does carry with it certain dangers and risks. These vary from person to person and are, in large part, determined by the skill of the surgeon and on the health of the patient.

Infection

The surgical incision made to expose the knee joint during knee replacement surgery can become infected, which can complicate the recovery process or necessitate removal of the implanted prosthesis.

Blood Loss

Knee replacement surgery, as with most of other types of invasive surgical procedures, carries the risk of blood loss, in some cases severe, which can complicate the recovery process or, in rare cases, become a life threatening situation.

Nerve Damage

During implantation of an artificial knee replacement prosthesis, there exists the danger of injuring, or in some cases severing, nerves in close proximity to the knee joint. This can cause post-operative leg numbness and mobility issues.

Blood Clots

During knee replacement surgery, blood clots can form in the operated leg. Occasionally, one or more of these clots may break off and travel to other parts of the body, including the lungs, and cause life threatening complications.

Leg Fracture

In rare cases, knee replacement surgery can cause a fracture to one of the leg bones, either the tibia or the femur. Depending on the severity of the fracture, the functionality of the knee replacement prosthesis may be compromised, necessitating further surgery.

References

• Dangers of Knee Replacement Surgery
• Knee Replacement Dangers