Total knee replacement is sometimes considered for people with psoriatic arthritis when joint damage is severe. Like any surgery, it does carry some infection risk — but there are steps that can help reduce that risk before, during, and after the procedure. Here are some key precautions to help prevent infection around the Show Full Answer
Total knee replacement is sometimes considered for people with psoriatic arthritis when joint damage is severe. Like any surgery, it does carry some infection risk — but there are steps that can help reduce that risk before, during, and after the procedure. Here are some key precautions to help prevent infection around the time of surgery:
- Tell your doctor about all medications you take, especially biologics or immunosuppressants, as these can affect your immune system and infection risk
- Get recommended vaccines before surgery, as being up to date can protect against common infections
- Wash hands frequently, especially after being in public spaces
- Avoid contact with sick people in the lead-up to and recovery from surgery
- Eat nutritious, whole foods to support your immune system
- Get plenty of sleep to help your body heal
- Stay physically active as advised by your care team to support recovery
After surgery, watch for signs of infection such as increased redness, warmth, swelling, or fever around the knee, and report these to your doctor immediately. It's also worth noting that if you're on medications like biologics, JAK inhibitors, or DMARDs for psoriatic arthritis, your doctor may temporarily adjust these around the time of surgery, since they can increase susceptibility to infection. Always discuss this with your surgical and rheumatology teams well in advance.
September 25
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