Post-Op Infections: What to Watch for After a Knee Replacement in Las Vegas, NV

A knee replacement in Las Vegas, NV can transform your life. You can achieve better mobility, reduce discomfort and experience newfound freedom. As with any surgery, this will take some time to achieve as you recover.

During this recovery process, it’s important to avoid infection. How? Watch for these warning signs that you might have a post-op infection. If you notice any of these red flags, contact your doctor right away for treatment.

Signs of Infection

• Status change: While some discomfort, warmth and swelling are normal after a knee replacement in Las Vegas, NV, these symptoms should lessen over time. If you experience an increase in tenderness, pain, redness or swelling, this could indicate an infection. Be sure to consult with your doctor if you notice any of these changes.
• Fever: If your temperature rises to higher than 100°F, this fever may mean you are fighting an infection. Monitor your temperature and contact your doctor if your fever passes this threshold.
• Chills: This symptom is often a sign that you have a post-op infection. Don’t simply throw on another blanket. It’s important to have any infection treated right away to avoid complications. Tell your doctor if you experience chills.
• Drainage: During the first few days after a knee replacement in Las Vegas, NV, your incision will probably drain. However, if you notice drainage for more than a few days, this is often a sign of infection. If the drainage has a bad odor or is gray, these are further signs of infection.
• Pain: You’ll experience some pain as you recover from surgery. However, if your pain stops and then starts up again, this could mean an infection has set in. Tell your doctor about any recurrence of pain or pain that gets worse over the month.

Infection Prevention

• Incision care: To prevent post-op infection, adhere to the guidelines your surgeon provided for caring for your incision.
• Wound care: It’s important to promptly treat any injuries on your body, not just your knee. Any cut, scrape or burn can become infected, and the infection can spread to your knee replacement in Las Vegas, NV.
• Dental care: Believe it or not, infection from your mouth can also spread to your knee. Maintain good preventative dental health care. If you experience any tooth issues, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist.

Infection Treatment

If your doctor discovers that you have a post-op infection, he or she will probably provide treatment in one of two ways.

• Antibiotics: For minor infections, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. These may be oral or intravenous.
• Surgery: If the infection is major, you may need to undergo further surgery. During the first procedure, the surgeon will remove the implant, clean the infected area and insert a spacer to kill bacteria. A second surgery will be completed to remove the spacer and reinsert the implant.

Know Your Knee Health

Would you like more information about recovering from a knee replacement in Las Vegas, NV? For industry-leading input, contact Bernard Ong, M.D. With his extensive experience, Dr. Bernard Ong is a premier orthopedic surgeon in Las Vegas, NV. Our services include orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, arthroscopy, meniscus surgery, ACL surgery, knee replacement and more. Reach out to us today for top-level patient care.

Categorized in: Knee Replacement

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