What are the possible complications?
Although chronic illnesses increase the risk for any surgical patient, spinal surgery has a very low rate of complications. On a national average, fewer than 3-4 percent of patients experience joint infection or other major difficulties. Complications within our practice have been even lower. Infections are the most common complication and these can be prevented with pre-operative and post-operative antibiotics and gentle exercises that begin soon after surgery.
In any surgery involving general anesthesia, there are possible complications of the anesthesia itself including heart complications, stroke and blood clots in the legs or lungs. Risks associated with any operation on the abdomen include bleeding, infection and failure of the wound to heal as well as death. We will discuss these risks in detail during the evaluation.
Although chronic illnesses increase the risk for any surgical patient, knee replacement surgery has a low rate of complications. Fewer than two percent of patients experience knee joint infection or other major difficulties. Blood clots in the leg veins are the most common complication, and can be prevented by medications, special support hose, inflatable leg coverings, and gentle exercises which begin soon after surgery.
Possible complications include: Hyperpigmentation, or brown staining, down the treated vein or at the injection site. This is from the breakdown of blood in the tissue. This usually goes away in 3 to 6 months. This is the most common side effect. About 30% of patients will have some degree of hyperpigmentation. Residual clots in the veins are also common. These are not dangerous and will go away in 3 to 6 months as well. If the clots are large, they can be drained. Skin reaction to the medication can occur if the medicine gets into the tissue. This will result in a blister progressing to a scab and will go away in a few weeks. This is more common if very large veins are treated. Superficial thrombophlebitis, or an inflammation of the vein, making it red and tender. The treatment for this is bed rest and Advil. The treated vessel can re-open and re-cannalize. You most likely will develop new veins over time.
: The following complications, though rare can occur. -Hematoma (bleeding within the developed pocket requiring a return to the OR to remove) occurs in less than one percent of cases and is NOT life threatening. Treatment consists of removing the implant, evacuating the blood, finding the bleeding point and replacing the implant.The blood is removed to decrease the chance of a denser scar forming around the implant. -Change of breast sensation, either increased or decreased in all or part of the breast can occur. -Capsular contracture is a condition in which scar forms around the implant and changes the feel and shape of the breast. This develops over time and often requires removal of the capsule to correct. -Asymmetry and noticeable scar are both rare but do occasionally occur and can be corrected.
