Complications of Knee Arthroplasty eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Total knee replacement has become an acceptable method of treating severe arthritis of the knee. The operative procedure must be performed with precise skill and accuracy. Meticulous alignment of the prosthetic components can reduce many of the complications.
Fine attention to general operating technique with adroit handling of tissues and efficient teamwork can reduce operating time to a minimum and thus avoid exposing the wound for an inordinate amount of time. An experienced efficient technique also aids in preventing deep venous thrombosis, unnecessary scarring, and decreases many of the complications that are associated with total knee arthroplasty.
Complications can be classified as those specific to the operation, general complications of the anesthetic (perioperative complications), and other medical complications (postoperative complications).
Synonyms and related keywords: total knee replacement, knee arthritis, deep venous thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, DVT, knee infection
Author: Mervyn J Cross, MBBS, FRACS 2004