13/07/2026
Knee Replacement: Complications & Management
🟣 What is Knee Replacement?
➟ Knee replacement (Total Knee Replacement/TKR) is a surgery in which a damaged knee joint is replaced with an artificial implant.
➟ It is commonly recommended for severe arthritis or advanced joint damage when pain and stiffness significantly affect daily activities and do not improve with medications, injections, or physiotherapy.
➟ Most patients experience excellent pain relief and improved mobility, but like any surgery, complications can occur and should be identified early.
🟣 Common Complications
✅ Pain & Swelling
➟ Mild to moderate pain and swelling are expected during the early recovery period and usually improve gradually with medication, exercise, and rehabilitation.
✅ Knee Stiffness
➟ Delayed movement or inadequate physiotherapy may lead to reduced knee flexibility and difficulty bending or straightening the knee.
✅ Wound Infection
➟ Signs include increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus discharge, fever, or worsening pain around the surgical site.
✅ Blood Clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis – DVT)
➟ Blood clots can develop in the leg after surgery and may cause:
• Calf pain
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Redness
✅ Implant Loosening or Wear
➟ Over time, the artificial joint may loosen or wear out, causing persistent pain, instability, or difficulty walking.
🚨 Seek Immediate Medical Attention If You Notice
🔴 Increasing knee pain instead of gradual improvement
🔴 Fever, chills, wound redness, pus discharge, or wound opening
🔴 Sudden calf pain or swelling
🔴 Chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or fainting
🔴 New numbness, weakness, severe swelling, or inability to move the leg
🟣 Recovery & Post-operative Care
✔ Attend all physiotherapy sessions and perform home exercises regularly.
✔ Take prescribed blood-thinning medications exactly as directed.
✔ Keep the surgical wound clean and dry.
✔ Avoid prolonged sitting or lying down without moving your legs.
✔ Walk regularly using a walker, stick, or other support until advised otherwise by your surgeon or physiotherapist.
✔ Maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on the new knee.
✔ Eat a balanced, protein-rich diet and stay well hydrated to support healing.
✔ Never ignore increasing pain, swelling, fever, or wound discharge.
✔ Attend scheduled follow-up visits to monitor healing and implant function.
🟣 When is Revision Knee Replacement Needed?
Revision surgery may be recommended if the artificial joint becomes:
➟ Loose
➟ Infected
➟ Unstable
➟ Excessively worn out
➟ Persistently painful despite appropriate treatment
The decision is based on your symptoms, physical examination, X-rays, blood tests, and evaluation by an orthopedic specialist.
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