Knee skin temperature following uncomplicated total knee replacement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common procedure for knee osteoarthritis.
• Postoperative management requires monitoring for complications like infection.
• Understanding normal temperature fluctuations is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the typical pattern of knee skin temperature after primary total knee replacement.
• To establish a timeline for temperature changes in the operated knee compared to the contralateral knee.
• To differentiate normal postoperative warmth from potential infection indicators.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study design.
• Inclusion of 32 patients undergoing primary total knee replacement.
• Serial skin temperature measurements of operated and contralateral knees: preoperatively, daily for 6 weeks, and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-surgery.

Main Results:

• The operated knee exhibited higher skin temperature compared to the contralateral knee post-TKR.
• The mean temperature difference was +2.9°C at 7 days, decreasing to +1.6°C at 6 weeks.
• This difference reduced to +0.3°C at 12 months and +0.0°C at 24 months, remaining statistically significant for up to 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Post-total knee replacement, increased operated knee skin temperature is a normal finding.
• The temperature differential between knees diminishes over time.
• Local knee warmth alone, without other infection signs, should not be a cause for concern after uncomplicated TKR.