What Are the Most Common Complications of Arthroscopy?

Though the procedure is minimally invasive and most patients recover nicely, there are several common complications of arthroscopy that can occur. Infection may set in the affected joint. Nearby structures like ligaments or nerves may be damaged while the joint is being fixed, causing pain or numbness. Blood can sometimes pool within the joint, leading to pain and swelling. In some cases, blood clots may form at the site of the surgery, causing blockages in the blood vessels nearby or possibly breaking off and traveling to other parts of the body.

One of the most common complications of arthroscopy is infection. The incision site may become infected, particularly if care is not taken to keep the opening clean, dry, and covered. In some cases, the infection may also occur within the joint. Patients who develop an infection may notice extra pain, swelling, or redness around the surgical site, or may notice pus seeping from the incision. They may also get a fever as their body tries to fight off the infection.

Another of the possible complications of arthroscopy is damage to tissues in the area around the surgical site. Nerve damage may be indicated by numbness or tingling near the affected joint. Ligaments attached to the joint or nearby blood vessels may also be damaged, typically resulting in excessive discomfort and pain.

Blood pooling within the joint that was operated on can also be one of the complications of arthroscopy. This bleeding inside the joint leads to an accumulation which can cause swelling and extra pain. Patients with this problem should notify their doctor immediately, as he or she will need to address the source of the bleeding and drain the excess blood to avoid extra damage to the joint.

Possibly the most dangerous of the complications of arthroscopy is the formation of blood clots in or around the surgical site. These clots may block blood flow in blood vessels near the joint, causing pain and numbness in nearby tissues. Another possibility is that they can break free and travel through the circulatory system to other parts of the body; this can be life-threatening if they end up in an organ such as the heart or lungs. Patients may be asked to take aspirin or other medications that thin the blood for a period of time after the operation to help minimize the possibility of clot formation.