Problems with Knee Surgery

Knee surgery is the last step in a process of trying to keep a person's knee healthy and mobile. In many cases, surgeons will try every possible alternative before turning to surgery, but in complex cases or those where trauma has been involved, surgery becomes necessary. While most surgeries are very successful, some problems can arise. Knowing what to look for can help you avoid any serious complications.

Infection

• The most serious problem you can have with knee surgery is a joint infection. Anytime you open the body to the outside air, it allows the possibility of invasion by bacteria and outside pathogens. In most cases, the antibiotics taken and sterile environment that surgeons have created in the operating room take care of these outside invaders. But, in some cases, infection will occur. This can cause drastic problems and become life threatening. Things to look for are red and swollen incision sites, the sensation of heat in the joint and fever. Any discharge from the incision that is green or smells foul is a sure indication of infection. If any of these symptoms occur, get to a hospital right away.

Damage

• As with any surgery, there is the potential for error with a knee surgery. Something may be cut or damaged that should not have been touched, or tissues around the surgery site may be bruised or injured. Damage can be anything from a minor mistake that can be fixed on the spot to a major error that requires additional surgery to fix. In rare cases, permanent damage can occur. It is important to be aware of the risks involved before going into surgery and to make sure the surgeon goes over these with you in detail.

Loss of Function

• With major knee surgeries, it is important to understand that the condition of a human knee after surgery will never be as good as an undamaged knee before surgery. With the wonders of technology, surgeons can now keep people up and moving when they previously would have been confined to a wheelchair, but even the best surgery cannot completely recreate the perfection of the human body.
  Understand exactly what will be happening during your surgery, and exactly what your restrictions will be post surgery. Once a joint has been cut, it has a tendency to need to be cut again, so take care of your knee to keep yourself out of the doctor's office.

Loss of Feeling

• Another common side effect of a major knee surgery is numbness in a spot on the leg. This area can be anywhere from a small patch to a large section of the shinbone and side of the knee. This is a result of the major nerve having to be cut during larger knee operations. In most cases, the numbness will go away as the nerve heals over time. But in some cases the loss of feeling is permanent, and it can be an unpleasant side effect, as any touch on that area of skin gives a strange sensation, almost as if the leg had been given novacaine. If this side effect is present and does disappear after a few months, ask your surgeon if anything can be done.

Bleeding and Blood Clots

• In major knee surgeries, such as knee replacement surgery, there is a good chance that a blood transfusion will be needed. Most hospitals have plenty of blood on hand, but ask anyway to make sure that your blood type is banked before your surgery. Major bleeding during surgery is a possibility, but most surgeons are prepared for this.
  One other problem that can occur after major knee surgery is blood clots in the legs. This can be life threatening. It is important to follow all of the doctor's instructions concerning wearing pressure stockings post surgery to avoid this complication.