 Complication rates after joint replacement surgery are low, less than two
percent for serious complications. Even though complications such as
infection, heart attack, or stroke are infrequent, when they occur they
can prolong your recovery.
Blood Clots
Blood clots can occur in the veins of either leg and are the most common
complication after joint replacement surgery. Your Orthopedic Surgeon
will prescribe a prevention program that will likely include a blood
thinner, specialized pumps for the legs or feet that help reduce the
risk of blood clots, and exercises that will help improve circulation in
the legs. It is important to discuss any concerns about complications
with your doctor before your surgery.
Signs of possible blood clots in the leg include:
- Increasing pain, tenderness, or swelling in the calf of the leg
- Redness above or below your knee
- These symptoms can occur in either leg
- If you experience any of these symptoms you should notify your doctor
as soon as possible.
Signs that a blood clot has traveled to your lung include:
- Sudden increased shortness of breath
- Sudden onset of chest pain
- Sharp specific chest pain with coughing
- These symptoms suggest the need for emergency medical evaluation.
Infection
Infection following joint replacement surgery is rare but most often
occurs from bacteria that enter the bloodstream during dental
procedures, urinary tract infections, or skin infections. The bacteria
can lodge around your prosthesis and cause an infection. Following your
surgery, you should notify your dentist and any physician caring for
you, that you have a joint replacement. They will likely prescribe
antibiotics before any dental work (including cleaning) or any invasive
procedure that could allow bacteria to affect your replaced joint.
Signs of infection of the joint replacement could include:
- Persistent fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit orally)
- Shaking chills
- Drainage from the surgery site
- Increased swelling, tenderness or redness around the surgical joint
- Notify your doctor if you develop any of these signs
|