A common concern for patients after knee replacement is infection. This is an uncommon complication, but certainly one that is a concern. Patients often worry that their knee feels warm after surgery and wonder if this is a sign for infection.
A recent large study evaluated skin temperature after knee replacement. The authors found that the surgical knee was warmer than the nonsurgical knee for up to 1 year after surgery. This was most notable for the first 3 months.
The study also found that skin temperature after surgery did not correlate well with risk for infection.
The study was performed by Sharma et al. and published in The Journal of Arthroplasty in October 2024.
So, it is normal to feel that your knee is warmer than your other knee after a knee replacement. The team at New Braunfels Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine provides expert care with respect to knee arthritis and knee replacement surgery. Reach out to us if you have any questions regarding your knee.
Sharma R, et al. Skin Temperature Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Longitudinal Observational Study. J of Arthroplasty 39 (2024). 2466-2470.
