Arthroscopy Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have an arthroscopy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Infection
• Blood clots
• Swelling or bleeding
• Damage to blood vessels, nerves, or other tissue
• The need to have another surgery or more extensive surgery

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Pre-existing heart or lung condition
• Obesity
• Recent or chronic illness
• Diabetes
• Bleeding disorders
• Smoking

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site
• Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
• Joint pain, fatigue, stiffness, rash, or other new symptoms
• Swelling, tingling, pain, or numbness in your toes that is not relieved by elevating your knee above heart level for one hour
• Drainage

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.