Mitigating the Post-operative Swelling Tsunami in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Call to Action
Andrew Wickline, Windy Cole, M. Mark Melin, Suzie Ehmann, Frank Aviles, Jennifer Bradt, Andrew Wickline
Abstract
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a treatment option for individuals with symptomatic osteoarthritis who have failed conservative therapy. In this manuscript the authors describe the pathophysiology of post-operative edema and explore the patient dependent factors potentially contributing to lymphatic dysfunction and thus directly influencing the TKA postoperative course. A proposed multimodal perioperative protocol is presented that focuses on identifying limb edema/lymphedema preoperatively, intraoperative technique changes that may decrease swelling post-TKA.
Topics & Concepts
MedicinePerioperativeLymphedemaEdemaOsteoarthritisSurgeryTotal knee arthroplastyArthroplastySwellingMultimodal therapyConservative treatmentInternal medicineCancerPathologyAlternative medicineBreast cancerLymphatic System and DiseasesDiagnosis and Treatment of Venous DiseasesMyofascial pain diagnosis and treatment