What are the possible complications of total joint replacement surgery?
Possible complications with any surgical procedure are of two types. The first is possible anesthetic complications such as strokes, heart attack, blood clots, or pneumonia. It is absolutely necessary to have a complete physical examination and laboratory tests before surgery of this nature to make sure that one is in the best possible physical condition. People who are in good physical condition have a very low incidence of surgical complications. The other class of complications is pertinent to the specific surgery itself. On total hip and total knee replacement surgery, there is a possibility of wound infection, scar formation, body rejection of the prosthesis, and others. Modern surgical techniques and the use of antibiotics produce minimal and acceptable risk.
