Does elbow replacement 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 replacement are: • anesthesia • infection • loosening • nerve or blood vessel injury 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 Infection following joint replacement surgery can be very serious. The chances of developing an infection after most artificial joint replacements are low, about one or two percent. Elbow replacement has a somewhat higher chance of infection, for many reasons. The skin is thin around the elbow, and no muscles cover the joint.
