Men at higher risk after knee replacement

Men who have total knee replacement surgery are more likely to develop complications such as wound infection and have higher revision rates at five years than women. But researchers stress the surgery is still very safe and effective.

US researchers analysed information from almost 18,000 primary knee replacements performed in 2002 and looked for links between gender and risk of complications.

Men were 48% more likely to die from any cause after a year and had a 31% higher risk of wound infection. They were 25% more likely to be readmitted to hospital within 30 days and 20% more likely to need to replace the knee again within the first five years.

Publishing their study in Arthritis Care and Research, the authors suggest that differences in knee mechanics could be why men may need another replacement within five years. And it could be that more men are involved in heavy work or heavy exercise than women.

The risk of mortality could reflect “the gender-specific cardiovascular disease mortality advantage for women,” they write.

“In practical terms, this means men may need to be watched more closely in the follow-up period,” says Dr Jasvinder Singh who was involved in the research. “Our study serves as a reminder that there is much to learn about improving outcomes after total knee replacement in patients.”

Arthritis Research UK assures people that: “These results should be taken in context: knee replacement surgery is an extremely successful operation that effectively restores function and reduces pain in thousands of people who have this form of surgery every year.”