NEW DELHI– People with diabetes may face significantly higher risks of infection and blood clots following total knee replacement surgery, according to a new study led by Indian researchers.
The study, conducted by researchers from Vardhman Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi—along with experts from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and Fortis C-Doc Hospital—found that diabetes is a major risk factor for complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), a common procedure for advanced knee arthritis.
“Diabetes significantly impacts post-TKA outcomes, leading to higher complication rates and negatively affecting physical function and quality of life,” the researchers stated. “Insulin-treated diabetics face 60 percent higher perioperative adverse events. Poor sugar control around TKA surgery worsens outcomes.”
Published in the Journal of Orthopaedics, the study draws from a systematic review and meta-analysis, revealing that people with diabetes undergoing TKA face a 43 percent higher risk of developing periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). They are also 45 percent more likely to experience deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—a serious condition that can lead to pulmonary embolism if blood clots travel to the lungs.
In addition, hospital readmission rates were 28 percent higher in diabetic patients. Those on insulin therapy exhibited a 60 percent greater incidence of adverse perioperative events.
The researchers noted that over half of individuals with diabetes suffer from arthropathy—a condition affecting the joints—which often necessitates joint replacement procedures like hip or knee arthroplasty.
Given the increased risks, the team emphasized the need for more rigorous studies to define standardized measures for glycemic control. They also called for improved preoperative risk assessments and management strategies tailored to diabetic patients to enhance surgical outcomes. (Source: IANS)
