Low mortality risk after total knee and hip replacement

Washington, Jan 5 (ANI): Total hip and total knee replacement surgeries have successfully improved the quality of life of people experiencing pain associated with degenerative joints, according to a new study.

With a new hip or knee, and postoperative care prescribed by their doctors, most patients are able to regain a more active lifestyle with considerably less pain.

The researchers from Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register at the Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway showed that the risk of early postoperative mortality - or death following surgery-was slightly increased for the first 26 days after the elective surgery.

But 26 days after the surgery, the increased risk of death was negligible.

"Previous studies suggesting that increased mortality exists for as long as 60 or 90 days post hip or knee replacement surgery may be wrong," said lead author of the study, Dr Stein Atle Lie, PhD, MSc and professor in the Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Bergen, Norway

"We believe the risk is tied to a much shorter duration," Atle added.

"This very low postoperative mortality after hip and knee replacements should be reassuring for patients considering these surgeries," said study co-author Lars B. Engesaeter, MD, PhD and Head of Norwegian Arthroplasty Register, Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway. (ANI)