What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to a knee replacement?

The symptoms may include skin rash, itching and discoloration in the area around the artificial joint. Other symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, and joint stiffness can have numerous causes and not necessarily be because of a metal allergy/sensitivity.

What are the symptoms of rejecting a knee replacement?

What are the symptoms of a failed knee replacement?

• Pain, which can occur during activity or at rest.
• Swelling around the joint, or recurrent joint effusions.
• Feeling as though your knee wants to “give out” when you’re standing, walking, or going up and down stairs.

Is there nickel in titanium knee replacements?

Most joints are an alloy of several metals, but some of the titanium alloys contain no nickel at all.

How much nickel is in a knee replacement?

“Furthermore, there is less than 1% nickel in the cobalt-alloy implants commonly used in joint replacement, making nickel allergy an unlikely phenomenon in the setting of total knee replacement, for example.”

Can nickel cause skin rashes?

Nickel is also one of the main causes of a skin rash known as allergic contact dermatitis. Someone with a nickel allergy almost always has a localized response following exposure to objects containing nickel. This means that the allergic reaction only affects the part of the skin that comes into contact with nickel.

Can you be allergic to your knee replacement?

Allergic reactions to total knee replacement materials can be severe and long-lasting, causing chronic pain, inflammation of the tissues around the knee replacement, and loss of mobility. This may require constant antibiotic or steroid medication and continuous use of pain medication.

Are total knee replacements plastic or metal?

During primary total knee replacement, the knee joint is replaced with an implant, or prosthesis, made of metal and plastic components . Although most total knee replacements are very successful, over time problems such as implant wear and loosening may require a revision procedure to replace the original components.