Does elbow fusion surgery cause any problems?
As with all major surgical procedures, complications can occur. This is not intended to be a complete list of complications. Some of the most common complications following elbow fusion surgery are: • anesthesia • infection • nerve or blood vessel injury • nonunion Anesthesia Problems can arise when the anesthesia given during surgery causes a reaction with other drugs the patient is taking. In rare cases, a patient may have problems with the anesthesia itself. In addition, anesthesia can affect lung function because the lungs don’t expand as well while a person is under anesthesia. Be sure to discuss the risks and your concerns with your anesthesiologist. Infection Any surgery carries the risk of infection. You will probably be given antibiotics before the procedure to reduce the risk. If you get an infection, you will need more antibiotics. If the area around the bone graft or metal plate becomes infected, you may need surgery to drain the infection. Nerve or Blood Vessel Injury All
