Orthopedic Surgical Risks
The complication rate following joint replacement surgery is very low. Nevertheless, as with any major surgical procedure, patients who undergo total joint replacement are at risk for certain complications — many of which can be avoided and/or treated. Possible complications include:
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Lung congestion
Infection
Infection may occur in the wound or within the area around your new joint. It can occur in the hospital, after the patient returns home, or years later. Following surgery, joint replacement patients receive antibiotics to help prevent infection, and may also need to take antibiotics before undergoing any medical procedures to reduce the chance of infection spreading to the artificial joint.
People who develop infections within the first few months of surgery are often treated successfully with intravenous antibiotics and a surgical technique that washes the infected implant. People who develop infections months or years after joint replacement appear to face more challenging treatment. Often these infections require surgical removal of the infected implant, use of a spacer impregnated with antibiotics to stabilize and treat the joint space, and longer-term intravenous antibiotics.
Careful blood monitoring helps to determine when the infection is thoroughly cleared. A new joint replacement may be considered at that time.
Blood clots
Blood clots can result from several factors including less mobility following surgery, which slows the movement of the blood. There are several ways to reduce the possibility of blood clots, including:
- Blood thinning medications (anticoagulants)
- Elastic support stockings that improve blood circulation in the legs
- Plastic boots that inflate with air to promote blood flow in the legs
- Elevating the feet and legs to keep blood from pooling
- Walking hourly
Lung congestion
Pneumonia is always a risk following major surgery. To help keep the lungs clear of congestion, you’ll be assigned a series of deep breathing exercises.