Part of The Joint Replacement Guide — Phase 3: Understanding the Risks · Article 18 of 42 · Hip & Knee Key Points Revision surgery means replacing or adjusting some or all of a previous joint replacement, and is generally a bigger, more complex operation than the original. Outcomes from revision surgery are, on average,…
Part of The Joint Replacement Guide — Phase 3: Understanding the Risks · Article 17 of 42 · Hip & Knee Key Points Having read through the risks in previous articles, it’s just as important to understand what’s actively done to reduce them. The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, structured infection prevention, and VTE prophylaxis are…
Part of The Joint Replacement Guide — Phase 3: Understanding the Risks · Article 16 of 42 · Hip & Knee Key Points Diabetes Diabetes, particularly if poorly controlled, increases the risk of infection and slower wound healing after joint replacement. Well-controlled diabetes is not a barrier to surgery, and the focus is on optimising…
Part of The Joint Replacement Guide — Phase 3: Understanding the Risks · Article 15 of 42 · Knee Key Points Stiffness, kneecap (patellar) problems, and persistent discomfort are the main risks specific to knee replacement. Knee replacement has a notably higher rate of ongoing mild discomfort than hip replacement, even when the operation has…
Part of The Joint Replacement Guide — Phase 3: Understanding the Risks · Article 14 of 42 · Hip Key Points Dislocation, leg length difference, and nerve injury are the main risks specific to hip replacement, on top of the general surgical risks covered previously. Dislocation risk has fallen significantly with modern techniques and is…
Part of The Joint Replacement Guide — Phase 3: Understanding the Risks · Article 13 of 42 · Hip & Knee Key Points Most hip and knee replacements can be performed under general anaesthesia, spinal (regional) anaesthesia, or a combination of the two. Spinal anaesthesia is often preferred for joint replacement, with evidence suggesting fewer…
Part of The Joint Replacement Guide — Phase 3: Understanding the Risks · Article 12 of 42 · Hip & Knee Key Points Bleeding Some blood loss is expected with any joint replacement, but modern techniques — including the routine use of a medication called tranexamic acid, which reduces bleeding during and after surgery —…