Knee and hip replacements are two of the most common joint replacement surgeries. The good news is that most joint-replacement patients enjoy excellent results and lead more active, pain-free lives.
At his private practice in Houston, Texas, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Kwan (Kevin) Jun Park, MD, has performed many successful total and partial hip and knee replacements. But all surgeries come with risks, including the risk of infection after the operation.
The good news is that infection after hip or knee replacement is relatively rare. Only a small percentage of people, generally less than 1 in 100, develop an infection after surgery.
If you develop an infection after a hip or knee replacement, it can take place near the incision or around your new prosthetic joint. To help you understand the causes and symptoms of infection after hip or knee replacement, we created this guide.
Bacteria, the cause of infection, are everywhere. You develop an infection if your immune system can't fight off bacteria when they enter places they shouldn’t or grow too plentiful.
When you have a hip or knee replacement, you can develop an infection for several reasons, including bacteria entering through the incision and bacteria entering your body through other invasive procedures (e.g., dental work, skin procedures, unrelated biopsies).
Your risk of getting a major infection after hip or knee replacement surgery increases if you have certain risk factors or health conditions, including:
Your risk is also higher if you have cancer or a condition that requires immunomodulators, chemotherapy, or other immunosuppressive treatments
Because replacement joints contain metal and plastic parts, it can be difficult for your immune system to clear the infection once it reaches these pieces. The increased blood flow to the surgical joint makes it easier for bacteria to reach the joint.
You can also develop an infection in your hip or knee months or years after your joint replacement surgery for the same reason if you get another type of bacterial infection (e.g., pneumonia).
If you’ve had joint replacement surgery and develop a bacterial infection, talk to your primary care doctor as soon as possible. These infections are treatable with antibiotics and could prevent the infection from spreading.
Understanding the symptoms of infection after you have a hip or knee replacement can make it easier to get the care you need when you need it. The most common symptoms to watch for include:
You may also notice pain that gets progressively worse over time or have recurring bouts of acute pain.
If you’ve had hip or knee replacement surgery and are worried about infection, or if you’re considering one of these life-changing surgeries and are nervous about developing an infection, it’s best to speak with a specialist, like Dr. Park.
Don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Early diagnosis and assessment improves your prognosis and makes treatment faster and more effective. It may also mean the difference between nonsurgical and surgical treatment.
Dr. Park begins with a review of your medical and surgical histories, current symptoms, and a physical exam. You can expect to also have additional testing or imaging studies, like blood work, joint fluid analysis, X-rays, or bone scans, to determine the location and nature of your infection.
For a superficial infection that only affects your skin and soft tissues, Dr. Park may use oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics. For patients with deeper or more extensive infections, surgical treatment is usually required.
In this case, Dr. Park removes all infected tissues. He cleans or replaces your implant/prosthetic joint and associated pieces, then prescribes antibiotics for several weeks to ensure the infection fully clears.
In rare cases, patients may require more a extensive surgery called “staged surgery,” which involves:
For more information about infection after hip or knee replacement, contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Park at our office in Houston, Texas.
