In 2023, approximately 3.6 million surgeries were performed worldwide to cure the knee-joint problem. Almost every surgery is successful, with very rare complications of knee replacement surgery. Knee replacement surgery is a very effective process for people with persistent knee-joint pain and difficulty in moving. In this process, the doctor will remove your damaged bone with an artificial joint.
This process is life-changing, and most people show improvements in knee function and quality of life after the surgery. Knee transplant surgery is mainly a safe process, and most people have no complications after the surgery. However, like other operations, a knee transplant also has certain risks. In this blog, we will discuss the management and risks, prevention, and factors affecting the complications of knee replacement surgery.
What is Knee Transplant Surgery?
This is a surgical process in which a surgeon removes the damaged bone of the knee with an artificial joint. The main aim of the knee replacement surgery is to remove the chronic pain and disability occurring due to arthritis and injury. The implant material used in knee replacement surgery is generally made up of metal.
There are mainly two types of knee replacement surgery: total knee replacement and partial knee replacement. The doctor suggests your types of treatment according to the severity of bone damage. There are some key differences between total vs partial knee replacement surgery. In a partial knee replacement doctor removes only the damaged part of the knee. A partial knee transplant surgery is very small and has a shorter recovery time. In total knee replacement, all the components of your knee are replaced with artificial parts.
Complications and Management of Knee Replacement Surgery
Knee transplant surgery is generally considered a safe and effective process. Although these operations also have complications that range from minor to very complicated, life-threatening events. Risks that occur after the Knee transplant surgery include:
Infection
Some people get infected after the surgery at the cut part or in deeper tissues. A small infection is generally treated with antibiotics, while a deep-spread infection requires further surgery.
Blood Clotting
There is a possibility of blood clotting after the surgery. This condition is not very serious and commonly occurs after orthopedic surgery. The doctor prescribed blood thinners for the normal blood clots to reduce symptoms like pain and swelling. If blood clotting forms in the vessels of the lungs, then it causes a deadly condition such as pulmonary embolism. Doctors mainly suggest wearing compression stockings and or taking anticoagulant medicine to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Inflexibility
Most people show improvement in the knee joint problem after the surgery. However, some people may face issues with their new knee. They can feel difficulty in strengthening and bending the knee due to insufficient recovery and damaged tissues. This is a very common problem and can be recovered after some days. The doctor suggests certain exercises to help with these problems.
Wound and Bleeding
Doctors use staples to close the wound after the surgery. Your healthcare provider does a proper dressing to heal this wound. But complications may arise sometimes, such as slow healing of the wound, after the surgery. The doctor mainly suggests a proper, balanced diet before the procedures that helps your wound heal properly.
Persistent Pain
Almost every person shows improvement in chronic pain related to the knee. But for some people, pain may persist even after the surgery. According to a data survey, 605 people underwent knee replacement surgery. Out of 100 %,12% still feel persistent pain, and 38% experienced pain during movement after the surgery.
Nerve Damage
At the time of surgery, there is a chance that nerve tissues or ligaments related to the knee joint could be damaged. This is not a common problem and must be repaired during the surgery. A study of 47585 knee replacement procedures shows that 0.4% people experience nerve palsy, which causes loss of sensation in the leg. Symptoms of nerve damage are numbness, weakness, and a burning sensation in the affected part.
Complications of Anesthesia
A general anaesthesia is commonly used by a surgeon before the surgery. It is generally safe, with some complications such as dizziness and a sore throat. Some other complex side effects include allergic reactions and breathing difficulties. If you take or use any diabetes medications and supplements, then speak to your doctor about it because such medicines can interact with anesthesia and cause reactions in your body.
Metal Sensitivity
Metal artificial joints used in the knee replacement surgery may cause allergic reactions in some patients. This is called metal sensitivity. According to a 2019 report, among 233 people who underwent knee replacement surgery, the prevalence of such a reaction is above 15%. The most common metal that causes a reaction are chromium and cobalt.
Factors Affecting the Risk of Knee Replacement Surgery
Complications of joint replacement surgery depend on various factors, such as the patient’s overall health and other post-operative factors. Factors that affect the complications of knee replacement surgery are:
- Age: Both very young and old people have a higher risk of certain complications. Younger people may have a risk of revision surgery due to loosening or wear out of the material. Whereas an old person is susceptible to other medical issues, such as delirium.
- Obesity: Obesity may cause various complications, such as wear out of the artificial joint.
- Diseases: Certain existing diseases may cause a poor outcome of knee replacement surgery.
- Surgery: A second replacement surgery has a higher risk of complications compared to the first procedure.
- Medicine: A poor lifestyle of the patient, such as smoking and alcohol use, increases the risk of complications and poor outcomes.
- Care After Surgery: Post-operative care, such as wound care, impacts the recovery and reduces the potential of complications.
How to Prevent and Manage the Risks of Knee Replacement Surgery?
Identifying the risk of knee transplant surgery and taking precautionary steps to prevent risks gives a good outcome. Precautionary steps to prevent and manage the complications of knee transplant surgery are:
- Exercise: A guided exercise by experienced doctors helps to reduce stiffness and enhance patient mobility.
- Health Checkup of the Patient: A proper assessment of the patient’s health before the surgery helps doctors to identify and address the potential risks.
- Medications: Prescribed medicines and blood thinners given by doctors help to reduce the blood clots and infections after surgery.
- Planning of Surgery: Proper planning of the surgery procedure and sterilization reduces the complications of the knee transplant.
- Proper Monitoring: Proper monitoring of the patient’s health must be taken to identify any complications and manage them effectively.
Conclusion
Knee replacement surgery is a process that gives freedom from chronic knee joint pain and improves mobility. However, certain risks are also associated with a knee transplant. So it is important to identify the potential complications and manage them effectively. Understanding the factors that influence the risk helps in reducing the complications of knee replacement surgery. I hope this blog helps you to understand the complications of knee transplant surgery and provides tips to prevent it.