Orthopaedic Surgical Risks
While orthopaedic surgery can significantly improve pain, mobility, and overall quality of life, like any surgery, it carries some degree of risk. These risks can vary depending on the type of procedure being performed, the joint or limb involved, and your overall health. Factors such as age, lifestyle, medical history, and previous surgeries may also influence your individual risk profile.
Understanding potential complications allows you to make informed decisions about your care and prepare for a smoother recovery. During your consultation, Dr Sam Martin will discuss the risks most relevant to your condition, and explain how these are managed before, during, and after your procedure.
The information below outlines some of the more common surgical risks associated with orthopaedic procedures. Please note, not all patients will experience these complications, but being informed can help you feel more confident and in control of your treatment journey.
General Surgical Risks
Infections can occur at the surgical site or internally. Surgical site infections (SSIs) can range from superficial infections involving the skin to deeper infections involving tissues, organs, or implanted materials.
- Prevention: Antibiotics are typically administered before and after surgery to minimize the risk. Sterile techniques during surgery also play a critical role.
- Management: If an infection occurs, it may require additional antibiotics or surgical intervention to clean the infected area.
Formation of blood clots, particularly deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is a common risk. Clots can potentially travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening.
Prevention: Blood thinners, early mobilization, and compression devices are often used to reduce this risk.
Management: Treatment may include blood thinners and possibly surgical intervention.
Excessive bleeding during or after surgery can occur, sometimes requiring a blood transfusion.
- Prevention: Preoperative assessment of blood clotting function and careful surgical technique.
- Management: Blood transfusions or surgical interventions to control bleeding may be necessary.
Anaesthesia, whether general, regional, or local, carries risks such as allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and cardiovascular complications.
- Prevention: Thorough preoperative assessment and monitoring during surgery.
- Management: Immediate medical intervention to manage any adverse reactions.
Specific Orthopaedic Surgical Risks
Nerves near the surgical site can be damaged during the procedure, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness.
- Prevention: Careful surgical technique and knowledge of anatomy.
- Management: Sometimes, nerve damage may resolve over time, but in some cases, additional treatment or surgery may be required.
- Complications: In surgeries involving implants, such as joint replacements, there is a risk of implant failure, loosening, or wear over time.
- Prevention: Use of high-quality materials and precise surgical techniques.
- Management: May require revision surgery to replace or repair the implant.
Postoperative stiffness in the joint can occur, limiting range of motion.
- Prevention: Early and effective physiotherapy and mobilisation.
- Management: Physiotherapy, medications, and sometimes additional surgical procedures.
In bone surgeries, the bone may heal slowly or not at all (non-union).
- Prevention: Ensuring proper alignment and stability during surgery, and good nutrition and bone health post-surgery.
- Management: Additional surgery, bone grafting, or use of bone stimulators.
Systemic Surgical Risks
Patients with underlying heart conditions may face an increased risk of heart attack or stroke during or after surgery.
- Prevention: Preoperative cardiac evaluation and optimisation of cardiac function.
- Management: Immediate medical intervention and postoperative cardiac care.
These can include pneumonia, especially in patients with pre-existing lung conditions.
- Prevention: Preoperative respiratory therapy and postoperative mobilisation.
- Management: Antibiotics, respiratory therapy, and supportive care.
Kidney function can be affected, particularly in patients with pre-existing kidney issues.
- Prevention: Adequate hydration and careful monitoring of kidney function.
- Management: Medications, dialysis in severe cases.
Understanding the potential risks associated with orthopaedic surgery is essential for patients to make informed decisions. It is important to discuss these risks Dr Martin and the anaesthetist, who can provide personalised information based on your specific condition and health status.
