What are the risks of Joint Replacement surgery?

Joint replacement surgery is the medical technique of helping patients suffering from chronic. As the name suggests the procedure involves the replacement of a damaged joint or a part of it with an artificially created graft that resembles the original joint. Our joints can get affected by a number of reasons that include injuries sustained in an accident, normal wear and tear and medical conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis. Joint problems can be very painful and can limit your daily activities to a great extent. In some cases, the problem can be easily treated by topical medicine and ointments as well as physiotherapy. In chronic cases however the patient needs to undergo joint replacement surgery. Dr. Aashish Chaudhry is one of the most reputed and trusted names when it comes to joint replacement surgery in Delhi.

Although joint replacement surgery has successfully helped to treat many patients, just like any other medical procedure it too has certain risks associated with it. On consulting the leading knee replacement surgeon in Delhi we came to know that before proceeding with the surgery the doctors have to make sure that the patient is eligible for it or else it can even pose a serious threat to the life of the patient. This same was backed up by the leading ankle, shoulder, elbow and hip replacement surgeons in Delhi.

The various risks associated with a joint replacement surgery include the following:

• Joint replacement surgeries are performed under the influence of anaesthesia and a lot of patients are allergic to anaesthesia. This increases the risks of stroke, blood clot and pneumonia.
• Another major risk associated with joint replacement surgery is clot formation. The blood clots usually develop in the veins and have a tendency to break free from the wall of the vein and travel along the blood channels. These clots can block the various blood channels leading to very serious complications including pulmonary embolism. This condition is also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Sometimes the graft can become loose and dislocated from its original position leading to chronic pain and discomfort. The patient may need to undergo a division surgery in order to treat the problem.
• If the graft differs from the original joint in its size, it can lead to a difference in the lengths of the legs. The problem can be easily treated with the help of a shoe insert.
• After the surgery, the patient may feel chronic stiffness in the affected knee. While in most of the patient's the normal functioning of the knee is restored, there are still many who cannot bend the affected knee properly. Although physiotherapy can prove to be very helpful in such cases by increasing the mobility of the knees, it might take up to some time and in some cases, the flexibility of the affected joint will be reduced permanently.
• The material used for making the prosthetic joint can trigger allergic reactions in certain patients. This is usually marked by itching and inflammation accompanied by chronic pain. In such cases, the prosthetic joint has to be removed immediately.
• Sometimes if the doctor is not careful, the surrounding tissues and joints can get damaged during the surgery leading to more complications

Some patients opting for sports injury treatment in Delhi complained there their performance in the field was highly affected after the surgery. This is quite natural as joint injuries can be traumatic and it may take up to months to heal properly. It is highly recommended to visit a specialist and get yourself treated from the best hospital to avoid any such complication.

If you are suffering from a joint problem of any kind, immediately consult an orthopaedic specialist. The doctor might suggest certain tests and screenings which include X-Ray and arthroscopy to determine the root cause of the problem and suggest a treatment procedure accordingly. Surgery is usually the last resort when all other treatments fail to work.

You went after the surgery the patient needs to strictly abide by all the guidelines set by the doctor which include complete bed rest and abstaining from all kind of rigorous physical activities that may put unnecessary strain on the affected joint. Physiotherapy may be started within 3 to 4 days after the surgery.