Management of falls after total knee arthroplasty

Orthopedics. 2008 Mar;31(3):225. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20080301-20.

Abstract

This study evaluated 78 patients who fell after total knee arthroplasty. Eight patients (10.3%) had soft-tissue injuries that led to a poor clinical course (deep infection, unplanned return to the operating room, temporary or permanent resection arthroplasty, or knee arthrodesis). Factors related to a poor clinical course included copious bleeding from the surgical wound immediately after falling, falling within 8 weeks of arthroplasty, and rupturing the parapatellar surgical wound and quadriceps repair. Patients who fall and have bleeding from their surgical wound should receive emergency surgical irrigation and debridement. A treatment protocol for patients who fall after total knee arthroplasty is presented.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data*
  • Aged
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Knee Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Knee Injuries / surgery*
  • Male
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Texas / epidemiology
  • Treatment Outcome