What is the most serious complication of a knee joint replacement?

Blood clots are one of the most significant risks of knee replacement surgery. If surgery damages a blood vessel or the person does not move for several days after the procedure, blood flow can slow, and a blood clot may form. A blood clot in one of the deep veins in the legs is called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

What can go wrong after a total knee replacement?

Which is the most serious complication associated with total joint replacement?

One of the most common serious medical complications related to joint replacement surgery is blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) refers to a blood clot in the leg and is called a deep vein thrombosis. A sudden increase in leg swelling along with calf tenderness may be the first sign of a blood clot in the leg.

What issues may lead to the need for a total knee replacement?

The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is to relieve severe pain caused by osteoarthritis. People who need knee replacement surgery usually have problems walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs. Some also have knee pain at rest.

Is knee replacement high risk surgery?

As with any surgical procedure, knee replacement surgery carries risks. These risks range from infection and pain to blood clots. However, the AAOS point out that more than 600,000 procedures take place each year in the United States alone, with fewer than 2 percent resulting in serious complications.

Possible complication of total knee replacement

Can knee surgery go wrong?

Knee replacement complications can result from surgery or a faulty implant. Loosening is one of the most serious complications after knee surgery and pain is the most common one. Loosening can cause bone fractures, instability and serious falls. Almost all serious complications require revision surgery.

What are some potential complications from joint replacement?

What causes pain years after knee replacement?

The implant becomes loose – A loosening implant is a cause of pain that can occur years after knee replacement surgery. A loosening implant is typically caused by wear and tear over time, though it can be exacerbated by high-impact sports or obesity.

How common is nerve damage after knee replacement?

According to a more recent publication, the incidence of nerve injury following TKA ranges from 0.3% to 1.3%.

How long after knee replacement do you have to worry about blood clots?

Citing several published studies, Heit says the risk period for clots in the deep veins, for instance, can be up to 12 weeks after hip replacement and up to six weeks after knee surgery. These long-term risks are the most important for patients to know about, he says.

Can you still have arthritis after a knee replacement?

More than half of knees that have no or mild radiographic osteoarthritis prior to knee replacement later go on to develop the disease during the following 4 years, according to findings published in Arthritis Care and Research.

How long does it take for a total knee replacement to feel normal?

How long will it be before I feel normal? You should be able to stop using your crutches or walking frame and resume normal leisure activities 6 weeks after surgery. However, it may take up to 3 months for pain and swelling to settle down. It can take up to a year for any leg swelling to disappear.

What are the symptoms of nerve damage in the knee?

Symptoms may include any of the following: Sensation changes in the thigh, knee, or leg, such as decreased sensation, numbness, tingling, burning, or pain. Weakness of the knee or leg, including difficulty going up and down stairs -- especially down, with a feeling of the knee giving way or buckling.

How common is drop foot after knee surgery?

Discussion. Peroneal nerve injury causing foot drop is a well-known complication of total knee arthroplasty. Injury in this setting can be caused by compression, ischemia, traction, crush, or laceration. The incidence of this injury based on more recent observations is estimated to be 0.79%.

What nerves are cut during total knee replacement?

Infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve

In cadaveric studies, Mayo Clinic has found that the standard surgical incision used in total knee arthroplasty almost always severs the infrapatellar saphenous nerve. The severed nerve generally doesn't affect the knee's function.

What is the best painkiller after a knee replacement?

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs are a great option for non-narcotic pain medications, such as ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).

What does it mean when the back of your leg hurts behind the knee?

Two common conditions that cause pain behind the knee are a posterior cruciate ligament injury and a popliteal cyst (Baker's cyst).

Why do my thighs hurt after knee replacement?

If you recently had a total knee replacement, you're probably experiencing some pain, including pain at the front of your thigh. The quadriceps tendon, which is located above the kneecap, is typically cut and sutured back together during surgery.

Is knee replacement surgery considered major surgery?

A knee replacement is major surgery, so is normally only recommended if other treatments, such as physiotherapy or steroid injections, have not reduced pain or improved mobility. You may be offered knee replacement surgery if: you have severe pain, swelling and stiffness in your knee joint and your mobility is reduced.

How long after knee replacement do you have to worry about infection?

Everyone who has a knee replaced is at risk for a deep infection. Most infections occur in the first two years after surgery. This is when 60 to 70 percent of prosthetic joint infections occur. That said, infections can develop at any time after surgery.

What are the chances of dying from knee surgery?

Not the Last Word: Safety Alert: One in 200 Knee Replacement Patients Die Within 90 Days of Surgery - PMC.

What percentage of knee replacements are successful?

Surgeons have performed knee replacements for over three decades generally with excellent results; most reports have ten-year success rates in excess of 90 percent.

Is sciatica common after knee replacement?

Sciatic nerve palsy after total knee arthroplasty, accompanied by motor power weakness and electromyographic evidence, is a rare occurrence.

What does a numb knee mean?

If you have knee numbness, the cause could be as simple as compressing the nerve with your clothing or by crossing your legs. However, it can also be caused by a medical condition or injury. Talk to your doctor if you have knee numbness that affects your mobility and interferes with your daily activities.

Why is my knee numb and tingling?

Numbness and tingling are common signs of damage to a peripheral nerve. Problems with the large femoral nerve can cause sensory changes in the knee, including both numbness and tingling. Damage to the femoral nerve or its branches can be caused by compression, diabetes, injury, or arthritis.