The online publication TeleManagement reports that knee replacement patients are less likely to experience complications following their surgery if surgeons used bone cement along with the antibiotic cefuroxime. Potential complications for diabetics after knee replacement surgery include slow wound healing, problems with fracture healing and lack of sensation in the joint that can lead to un-noticed trauma.
Researchers in Indiana studied the records of over 5, 000 patients who had knee replacement surgery. Six percent had diabetes. They found that deep infections in the operation area ran at 0.7% for people without diabetes, and at 1.2% in the diabetic group. Those diabetics treated with bone cement and the antibiotic cefuroxime were less likely to have a deep infection.
About one in five of people in the United States who are over the age of 65 now have diabetes, according to TeleManagement. That is also the age range where individuals are most likely to need a knee replacement.
