Wound Complications Following Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

Wound complications needing return to the operating room for wound debridement and closure after revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) occur in 0.5–3.7% individuals. Prevention of wound problems is paramount. Preventive measures include precise choice of the skin incision, delicate handling of the soft tissues, careful and precise hemostasis, and wound closure without excessive tension. It has been published that 1.8% individuals who experience aseptic rTKA develop a wound complication without deep infection compared to 3.8% individuals experiencing revision as part of their two-stage reimplantation procedure. Also, those individuals experiencing aseptic rTKA who develop a wound complication needing surgical intervention are ten times more likely to develop a subsequent deep infection compared to individuals without wound complications.