There are risks with any major surgical procedure and it is best to discuss this with your surgeon before your surgery. Complications in joint replacement surgery include infection and blood clots in the leg, called venous thrombosis, which in rare cases may also move to the lungs, called pulmonary embolism.
Infections are rare but can have serious consequences. Infections can be painful and require antibiotics and in severe cases, the new knee joint may need to be removed and replaced. It is important to make sure you take note of any unusual pain in your knee or other symptoms like fever or headache. Infections from other areas of your body can spread to your new joint so listening to your body is essential, even as you move about your normal, daily activities. Alerting your dentist and other health professionals that you have had joint replacement surgery will help you to avoid situations that may increase the chance of infection. In a very small number of cases, a blood clot may become stuck in the lung causing sudden breathlessness, collapse and very rarely, death.
If you experience any symptoms such as pain in your chest or breathlessness, you should contact your doctor immediately or visit an emergency room. Swelling, redness and painful areas are natural after surgery, but if they persist or get worse, it is worth checking with your doctor because these could be the signs of a more serious issue.
There are some precautions that you can discuss with your doctor and take such as wearing elastic stockings or plastic shoes which inflate with air to compress your leg muscles and improve the flow of blood in the leg after the operation; drugs to help thin the blood, and exercises to increase blood flow to the muscles.
