REAL Risks for Joint Replacement Surgery

What are the REAL risks for Joint Replacement Surgery, and what can YOU do to possibly avoid surgical interventions?

The following paragraph is directly from what, by some, is considered a landmark study in options for knee replacement form the Journal Of Knee Surgery, in2016L

“One of the benefits of delaying TKR (total knee replacement surgery) in older individuals may be to avoid risks associated with the surgery or with subsequent required revisions. The complications associated with TKR have been extensively studied and include infection,15,16 pulmonary embolism,17,18 thromboses,19,20 fat embolism,21,22 hemarthrosis,23,24 patellar fracture,16,25 heterotopic ossification,26,27 stiffness,16,28 nerve damage,29,30 vascular injuries,16,31 urinary compli-cations,32,33 and increased mortality.34,35 A recent study showed that postoperative mortality more than tripled in patients 􀀁 85 years following primary hip or knee replacement compared with patients 75 to 79 years of age.35 In a 10-year survivorship analysis, greater mortality rates after TKR were shown to be associated with: increasing age (p < 0.001), poorer health (p < 0.001), smoking (p < 0.001), BMI < 20 kg/m2 (p < 0.001), and rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.001).34 “

To summarize, surgical risks include blood clots, infections, nerve damage, and even an increase in post-surgical death rate.

We would add that while surgery may be the only alternative and appropriate for a percentage of arthritis sufferers, it does not come without concerns. It seems that many patients look at these surgical procedures as if they are as simple as clipping two Lego parts together. It’s way more complex...

While the surgeons may do a perfect job and are highly trained, risk still remains.

That’s why NYC Pain MD offers so may options to get you moving and feeling better, and hopefully greatly delay or even avoid the need for surgery.

The authors of the above reference study close out their summary as follows:

“Collectively, these studies under-score the importance of delaying TKR (total knee replacement) for certain patient populations and also encourage the need for a more well-tolerated, less invasive treatment option for these patients.”

Feel free to contact us to find out how to qualify for an evaluation and possible treatment programs to help you avoid surgery!