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Signs and Symptoms of Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty

With the latest developing technologies, joint replacements in any body part can be done. The most common replacements are hip replacements and knee replacements. Arthroplasty is the surgical replacement of a damaged knee. Very few people can undergo partial knee replacement. The recovery time depends on the age, lifestyle, and type of procedural replacement. Knee replacement terminology is replaced with “Arthroplasty.” 

When non-surgical treatments do not give any relief from pain, then the surgeon advises Arthroplasty. People suffer from joint diseases such as Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint diseases, and when any mishaps(accidents). After the surgery, the patient must be much more careful as the surgical area is more vulnerable to infection. The average lifespan of a knee replacement surgery is about 15 to 20 years. This implies that some patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery at a young age eventually require an operation to clean the bone surfaces and refix implants.

What are the signs of knee infections?

It’s difficult to diagnose infections in total knee arthroplasty. Still, diagnosis is multifactorial and depends on clinical tests such as radiographs, bone scans, serologic tests, synovial fluid, fluid examination, intraoperative culture, and histology. Added new technologies are ultrasonication and molecular diagnostics. The causes of infections may be a nutritional deficiency, diabetes, old age, obesity, or poor immune system. 

Signs of knee infections:

  • Incredible pain when the patient tries to use the knee.
  • Chills and nausea.
  • Fever lasting for more than 24 hours.
  • The knee joint gets loosened.
  • Knee stiffness.
  • Knee redness and irritation.

Causes of Infections after Arthroplasty:

Bacterial infections to the replaced joint are usually kept in check by the immune system. As the joint replacements are made of metal and plastic, it becomes difficult for the immune system to attack the implants. The bacteria gains access to the implants and causes multiple infections. 

Types of infections:

  • Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI): It’s the most dangerous complication following total knee joint arthroplasty. The treatment is determined by the severity of the infection.
  • Superficial infection: Superficial infections typically occur shortly after surgery. You could get a minor infection in the hospital or at home. The treatment is straightforward, but if left untreated, a minor infection can progress to a major one.
  • Deep knee infections: The doctor terms these as deep, major, delayed-onset, or late-onset infections. These infections are serious and can occur weeks or even after years of knee replacement surgery. Several steps are involved during the treatment. In most cases, the surgeon operates to remove the artificial infected knee.
  • Debridement: It’s a surgical procedure in which any contaminated soft tissue is removed, and the artificial joint is cleaned.
  • Postoperative infections: Infections after surgery are caused by germs. A surgical site infection(SSI) occurs when microbes multiply at the incision surgical area. Although, SSIs are only possible after surgery that involves an incision.
  • Hematogenous infection: This infection may occur at any time after post-surgery, which causes malaise, fever with chills, commonly of the septic.

Infections due to complications: in

It is common to get knee infections who undergo knee replacement, whereas it’s complicated for patients suffering from:

  • Diabetes
  • Immune deficiency, such as HIV lymphoma
  • With poor blood circulation in hands and feet
  • Patients undergoing chemotherapy or corticosteroids
  • Having frequent urinary tract infections
  • Overweight whose BMI is 50
  • Dental issues
  • Dermatitis
  • Previous knee replacement infections history

Diagnosis of Knee Infections: 

After a thorough physical examination of the prosthetic knee, If an infection is suspected, the physician may also order the following: 

  • Blood tests: Blood samples will be drawn to check for an increase in white blood cell count (which implies infection) and other signs of inflammation within the body.
  • Blood culture: Culture tests help identify the infectious agent, and a blood specimen is preserved in an environment that favours bacterial contamination.
  • Needle aspiration: A sample of bone matrix (lubricating fluid found in a joint) is collected from the joint for analysis under a microscope.
  • Bone scan: A small dose of radioactive material is utilized in this imaging test to illustrate a damaged wound on the computer screen.
  • Computed tomography(CT)scan: A CT scan uses X-rays and computer technology to create detailed cross-sectional images of tissue, bone, and blood vessels.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI): This allows visualization for screening and diagnosis, which use ultrasonic radio frequency and magnets.
  • Tissue biopsy: Small tissue fragments are retrieved to test for the presence of a microorganism. 

Dr Anjani Kumar has 20 years of experience and successfully performed 2000 knee replacement surgeries, 350 hip replacement surgeries, and 500 pelvic acetabular surgeries throughout his career. Please contact us on Mobile: +91 9989112411 and 

E-mail: anjanikumar@ gmail.com to know more and to avail of our services.

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