Knee Joint Replacement Infections

Knee replacement surgery is the last effort to keep a patient up and moving. In most cases, the knee is at the end stage of functionality, and in order for the patient to continue to be able to perform even the most everyday activities, the joint must be replaced. While a vast majority of knee replacement surgeries go off without a hitch, there are some that produce infections, which can not only be serious but deadly. Knowing what these infections are is an important step before undergoing knee replacement surgery.

Significance

• The significance of an infection in a total knee replacement is huge. At best, it means additional surgery to correct the problem; at worst, it can mean the loss of a limb or the death of the patient. When bacteria or pathogens invade a joint, they are firmly established in the body and can be very difficult to get rid of. Once they have a firm hold in one place, they are very likely to move around, making them incredibly dangerous--not just for the joint but for the body as a whole.

Identification

• Signs of infection in a knee replacement are swelling and heat in the joint along with fever in the patient, a discolored, foul smelling fluid leaking from the incision site and redness and intense pain surrounding the incision and inside the joint. If the infection is left untreated, blood poisoning can occur, as well as gangrene. In both these cases, death is possible, and in the case of gangrene, the removal of the limb becomes necessary. Keeping a sharp eye out for signs of infection throughout the recovery process is hugely important to a successful knee replacement surgery.

Prevention/Solution

• Usually, infection in knee replacements is prevented through stringent use of a clean environment in the operating room. Post-operative wound care is critical, as staph and other infections can be carried by hospital staff, as well as migrate on the patient themselves to the incision site. But even in the best circumstances, sometimes an infection can begin. Few people realize that staph is present on your skin all the time, and it is only in cases where the body is weakened that staph can become deadly. Using hand sanitizers, keeping the incision clean and avoiding any contact unless necessary is helpful, as well as regular changing of bandages and linens with sterile materials. Sterile means it has been treated to kill anything that might be on it.

Treatment

• The solution to a knee replacement infection is difficult. In most cases, it means revision surgery, where the surgeon goes back into the joint and removes everything that was placed in there. All the surrounding tissue must also be removed, and the entire joint is flushed with antibiotics. New prosthetic pieces are put in, with special "spacers" that are infused with high power antibiotics that will continue to pump out medicine for months after the revision surgery. In some cases, lifelong treatment of antibiotics will be needed to assure the health of the joint.

Warning

• If you should exhibit at anytime during your recovery from knee replacement surgery any of the symptoms of infection, it is critical to seek medical attention immediately. Every moment lost is another advantage for the invading bacteria. The prognosis of the patient is much better the sooner the infection is diagnosed and treated. Remember, a person generally can only have two revisions in a lifetime, so it is important to err on the side of caution.