Joint replacement surgeries have taken the medical treatment by a storm during the last few decades and the popularity is growing by the day. Usually the results are excellent, with high success rate. Joint replacement surgery has given a new lease of life to many, making them lead a pain free and productive life. Though it is very expensive, this surgery has found many takers.
Like any other surgery, the joint replacement surgery is also not without any complications. In this article, you will get to know about all possible complications and risks about this surgery.
Complications Related With Joint Replacement Surgery
Wear Out
Some replacement surgeries come with a time frame after that they need to be redone. The second surgery is much more complicated than the first one. You must check with your doctor whether you need to get the surgery done the first time itself or not.
Infections
Joint replacement surgeries run serious risk of infections. Though there are medicines like antibiotics, the doctors adopt precautions for complete sterilizations, infections do occur. The obese run double the risk of infection as compared to those with normal weight. The doctors should encourage the obese patients to lose weight before opting for joint replacement surgery.
Dislocation
In case of hip replacement surgery the joint may get dislocated. This happens even with the most successful surgeries. Hip is to put back in its place whenever the dislocation occurs.Dislocation of hip joint is very common in the obese. Their excessive body weight does not allow the new artificial hip to remain in its place so easily.
Loosening Of Implant
Osteolysis is the loosening of replacement implant which may happen over time. When osteolysis happens, the need for revision surgery arises. The research is going on to develop new replacement implants which do not pose such a problem.
Blood Clot
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a very common occurrence after any orthopedic surgery. DVT is the formation of blood clots in the large veins.DVT starts because there is no movement of the operated joint during the recovery period. This condition can be treated easily, but in rare cases it may become life-threatening.
Excessive Bleeding
Though in any surgery some amount of bleeding takes place, if it continues days after the surgery one may have to reopen the operated site to drain out the accumulated blood. Excessive bleeding can happen due to blood thinning medicines being given to the patient after the operation. Blood thinning medicines are given so that DVT or the blood clots do not happen.
Nerve Damage
Though rarely, the nerves may get damaged resulting in the numbness and loss of movement of the affected area. The doctors say that within a few months or at the most a year the nerve network becomes fine, but it is not guaranteed. The damage may be permanent.
Stiffness
In some cases there may be stiffness of the joint after the surgery. This happens due to the stiffness of the skin of the scar.If the scar does not heal properly, the skin gets pulled while making a movement. In such cases the skin is cut open and stitched again to make it soft and supple.
