Precautions after the surgery:

The knee replacement that you have had is an artifical joint. You need to look after it so that it gives you many years of trouble free service. It is not a new natural joint and cannot be used as one. The precautions to be taken particularly in the first 6-8 weeks are:

• Contact your doctor if you notice in the operated area, any redness, leaking fluid or increasing pain.
• Contact your doctor if you develop any catching chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or a fever.
• Use the support stockings provided to you in the hospital for about six weeks after surgery.
• Do not cross your legs.
• Do exercise your knee frequently as advised by the physiotherapist in the hospital and do take frequent short walk to help the circulation.
• In the longer term, there is a small risk of spread of infection to the knee joint should you have an infection anywhere else in the body or indeed if you are undergoing an operation, internal examination or even dental work. Remember to inform your doctor and he will consider putting you on antibiotics as preventative measure.