Infection After Knee Replacement Surgery

Infection is a complication about which doctors caution the patient before almost every surgery. Orthopedic surgeries are not an exception. There have been incidents of patients developing infection within or around the knee following a joint replacement surgery.

The most common cause of infection could be lowered immunity of the patient, over exposure of the patient’s internal tissues or inadequate antibiotic treatment after surgery. Infection after knee replacement surgery is mostly localized within or just outside the knee joint. There are some typical symptoms which point towards possible infection after knee surgery.

Indications of Infection:

• Swelling, pain and redness over the operated knee
• Fever constantly remaining above 100 degree F
• Above symptoms not responding to any medication
• Yellow discharge seeping out of the tube draining excess fluids from the knee joint after surgery

Patients may experience symptoms of infection immediately following surgery or after a few days. Any signs of infection should be reported to the doctor immediately. Prompt treatment with a knee joint replacement specialist in Mumbai will help to curb the infection.

Treatment Of Infection Occurring After Knee Replacement Surgery

Minimally invasive techniques like arthroscopic knee surgery in Mumbai are being widely used nowadays. These techniques have reduced the chances of post-surgical infection to nearly zero. However, it is always better to be armed with information so that the early signs of infection can be detected and treated promptly.

See a doctor immediately if you or anyone close to you who has undergone knee replacement surgery, exhibits any of the earlier mentioned signs of post surgery infection. Post surgery infection of the knee can be treated in the following ways:

1. Surgical Treatment

A small surgical procedure may be required to drain the pus and other infected tissue around the knee joint. This surgery is a short procedure and does not last for as long as the knee replacement. Pus removal is done using minimally invasive methods like arthroscopy.

The health of patients is monitored closely following this surgery. Their body temperature, swelling over the knee and general health are examined thoroughly. A blood test may be performed to detect any signs of underlying infection.

2. Medical Treatment

Even after successfully removing all the infectious debris from the patient’s knee, medical treatment is required for a few days or weeks. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medicines, steroids and pain relief medicines are administered to the patients orally or in the form of injections. The course of medicines should be completed as per the prescription of an orthopedic surgeon.

The true indication of successful knee pain treatment in Mumbai is that the patient recovers well and can perform all physical activities like they used to, before getting diagnosed with knee troubles.