Do you want to eliminate knee pain by replacing your knee? Here are some disadvantages of knee replacement surgery to make you aware of it. Most people have little information about big surgeries and therefore, they completely rely on doctors. But, before undergoing any surgery you need to do a self-research about it to get more information about it. Here, we will help you, so, read this article till the end. As you all know, our knees are very important and essential bones in our body. It helps in walking, sitting, running, and other activities. Without a knee, you can not even stand on your feet. For such an essential bone, we are here with some disadvantages of knee replacement surgery. Let’s get started.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Knee Replacement Surgery?
Here are some disadvantages of knee replacement surgery to reveal the truth about knee replacement surgery.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Infection
- Anaesthesia Complications
- Artificial Joint Becomes Loose Over A Time period
- Allergic Reactions
- Differences In Leg Length
- Knee Stiffness And Loss Of Motion
- Damage To Tendons And Ligaments
- Nerve Damage
- Persistent Pain
10 Disadvantages Of Knee Replacement Surgery
Let’s understand each and every disadvantage of knee replacement surgery mentioned above in detail. It will also help you to understand what are the pros and cons of knee replacement surgery.
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Deep Vein Thrombosis
The truth is that the artificial knee is not your natural knee so it is fixed that it will create some issues for you. One such common issue after getting knee replacement surgery is deep vein thrombosis or DVT, which is a serious medical condition in which a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body. Typically occurs in the leg, and these clots can travel through the bloodstream into the lungs causing blockage of blood flow. This is also known as a pulmonary embolism.
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Infection
Infection after a knee replacement surgery is not mandatory but some people reported that they experienced infection after surgery. This can be because of the carelessness of doctors. And keep in mind, an artificial knee must be surgically removed and replaced at a later time after antibiotics.
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Anaesthesia Complications
Before performing a knee replacement surgery doctors give you anesthetic injections, so, it may cause some reaction to you. The most common reactions include vomiting, dizziness, and breathing difficulties.
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Artificial Joint Becomes Loose Over A Time period
The fact is artificial knee joints do not last forever. One of the common knee replacement problems after 2 years is a loss in artificial knee joints. Because artificial knees are made from cement and cement does not always hold. The result is an artificial joint that becomes loose or dislocated. And this requires another surgery to fix it.
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Allergic Reactions
Not everyone but most people have experienced some allergic reaction after undergoing knee replacement surgery. Bone cement is a composite epoxy. So, patients can be allergic to the prosthesis, the cement, or both.
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Differences In Leg Length
Conditions like knock-kneed and bow-kneed are corrected at the time of surgery. The unfortunate result is a difference in leg length which can aggravate low back, ankle, and hip problems.
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Knee Stiffness And Loss Of Motion
Many people who underwent knee surgery complain of knee stiffness and loss of motion. But, it is true that an artificial knee can not move like your original knee. Because the artificial knee is made up of titanium or a cobalt-chromium-based alloy and cement. Therefore, after knee surgery, you need to limit activities like playing sports and walking for a long time.
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Damage To Tendons And Ligaments
Tendons and ligaments are essential and important stability for the knee. These can be injured during surgery causing pain, instability, and restricted movements. Both tendons and ligaments help your knee when you perform activities like walking, sitting, and running.
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Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can and does occur during knee replacement surgery. It is estimated to occur in up to 10% of cases. Common symptoms include numbness, foot drop, weakness, tingling, burning, or pricking sensation.
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Persistent Pain
You can not get complete relief from pain even after getting a knee replacement surgery done. Because after a knee replacement surgery, you can experience persistent pain in your knee. About 40% of patients continue to have ongoing pain.
Advantages Of Knee Replacement Surgery
The advantages of knee replacement surgery are,
- Effective to reduce pain
- Relief from injury or arthritis
- Improve range of motion
- Earlier return to activities
- Immediate physical therapy
- Smaller incisions
- You can move or walk after an injury
What are the advantages or disadvantages of partial knee surgery over full replacement? Now, you have understood both. There are many dangers of delaying knee replacement surgery including the inability to walk, work, and perform normal daily tasks.
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FAQ
What Percentage Of Knee Replacements Are Successful?
About 90% of Knee Replacements Last 10 Years and 80% Last 20 Years. Knee replacement surgery has an extremely high success rate. Patients tend to be very good at adhering to their recommended exercises, stretches, and physical therapy recommendations in order to ensure longevity of the new knee joint.
Can You Live A Normal Life After Knee Replacement?
Getting back to normal. You’ll return to your everyday routine over time. You may even be able to resume activities that you gave up when you started to have knee pain. Quality of life will likely improve as you are able to move more easily than you have for some tim
What Is The Best Age To Have A Knee Replacement?
The age bracket of 50 to 70 years is the most common age group for knee replacement patients. Older patients above the age of 70 may also benefit immensely from the mobility and comfort offered by a prosthesis.
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Can You Climb Stairs After Knee Replacement?
Answer: Immediately after surgery you will learn to climb stairs safely using crutches. As recovery continues and you work on flexion and extension of the new knee, you will be able to climb without crutches. With the help of physical therapy and building up the quadriceps muscles, stair climbing will be a breeze.
What Is The Most Commonly Reported Problem After Knee Replacement Surgery?
Knee Stiffness
One of the most common problems people experience after knee replacement is a stiff knee joint. 1 This can cause difficulty with activities that require a lot of bending, including going down stairs, sitting in a chair, or getting out of a car.
Conclusion
In this article, you have gone through the Advantages and disadvantages of knee replacement surgery. You may have a question like how bad does a knee have to be before replacement, right? Well, there is not any instrument to measure it, but you can think of getting a knee replacement surgery if your knee pain is deep when your doctor suggests you, or if you have a severe injury to your knee. Knee replacement surgery cost is not fixed; it varies as per your knee condition. Now, you have understood all the disadvantages of knee replacement surgery.
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