Risks and Complications of Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Key Takeaways:

Total knee replacement is a safe and effective procedure, but rare complications may include infection, blood clots, nerve or tissue damage, persistent stiffness, or implant wear. These risks occur in a small percentage of patients and are minimized by skilled surgeons, advanced technology, and proper recovery care.

Knee replacement is an effective way to eliminate pain and restore proper function to a knee joint that has become arthritic, been damaged by trauma or experienced significant wear and tear. This procedure has become very common, with approximately 790,000 knee replacements performed every year in the United States.

Knee replacement is an extremely safe procedure, with complications occurring in only 7.1% of procedures involving individuals under the age of 80. While the procedure experiences a high success and safety rate, it’s still important to understand the potential complications that may occur. The following overview will help you understand the potential risks so you can make a fully informed decision before undergoing surgery.

Infection

The risk of infection is a potential complication associated with all surgical procedures. An infection can develop after knee replacement if bacteria enter the surgical area during or after the procedure. The good news is that infections are extremely rare after knee replacement. Knee surgeons take a variety of precautions to minimize this risk, including:

• Maintaining sterile conditions in the surgery room
• Using only sterilized equipment and implants
• Prescribing antibiotics before, during and after surgery

In the event that an infection develops, it can result in a potentially serious complication that may be life threatening in severe cases. This is why it’s critical that you follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions diligently, including cleaning your wound and taking all prescribed antibiotics. If you notice any signs of infection, contact your surgery team at once.

Blood Clots

Blood clots are one of the more common potential complications after knee replacement. In most instances, blood clots after knee replacement don’t result in any noticeable symptoms or long-term issues. However, a blood clot can become very serious if it travels through the bloodstream and causes a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in your lungs). If a blood clot becomes very large, it can potentially block off one of the major veins in the back of the leg, resulting in a serious condition called deep vein thrombosis.

Fortunately, pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis are both very rare complications, occurring in 0.6-3% of knee replacement procedures. Often, your surgeon may prescribe a blood thinner after surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots. The other important step you can take to reduce the risk of blood clots is to begin walking around as soon as possible after surgery, as this movement will promote proper blood flow.

Nerve or Tissue Damage

While extremely rare, there is a possibility that the nerves, blood vessels or ligaments near the knee joint may be damaged during the procedure. This can result in:

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Tingling, burning or prickling sensation
• Reduced blood flow around the knee

Potential treatments will depend on the extent of damage. In most instances, nerve or tissue damage will heal on its own. However, your surgeon may recommend a procedure to address this complication in cases of more significant damage.

Persistent Pain or Stiffness

While some discomfort or stiffness is common immediately after surgery, it will usually subside as you heal and begin your physical therapy exercises. However, if you don’t begin moving your knee shortly after surgery or fail to follow your physical therapy program, you may be at increased risk of excessive scar tissue forming. If this happens, it can result in ongoing pain and stiffness long after these issues should have gone away.

Fortunately, persistent pain and stiffness is very rare, occurring in roughly 2.44% of knee replacement procedures. If you develop this complication, special exercises or additional physical therapy may be prescribed to resolve the issue. In severe cases, a follow-up procedure may be necessary to break up the scar tissue.

Implant Problems

Modern knee implants are highly durable and typically last a long time. However, medical devices aren’t meant to last forever and eventually, your knee implant may wear out and need to be replaced during a revision knee surgery procedure. The good news is most knee implants last 15-20 years or longer before needing to be replaced.

In some instances, knee implants can become loose or dislocated due to trauma or general wear, preventing the joint from working properly. If this occurs, you may need a revision procedure to correct the problem.

Raising the Bar for Knee Replacement on the Western Slope

Your knee surgeon’s skill and experience plays a major role in minimizing the risk of complications after knee replacement. At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, our team includes some of the finest board-certified, Fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons along the Western Slope. In addition, we use the most advanced technology available, including the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System by Stryker Orthopaedics, to ensure the greatest levels of precision with your procedure.

Our knee specialist, Dr. Kevin Borchard, has performed over 1,000 knee replacement procedures using the Mako system, and he has consistently achieved surgical outcomes that exceed industry standards. Dr. Borchard proudly maintains zero orthopedic surgical site infections, and none of his patients have been readmitted to CAO at the 30- and 90- day mark post-surgery. His track record of exceptional surgical outcomes is one of the primary reasons CAO has been ranked as one of the top 100 joint replacement hospitals in the country by Healthgrades.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.