Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 10: Diabetes may significantly raise the risk of joint damage and cause complications after knee replacement surgery, according to a new study by Indian researchers.

Led by experts from Vardhman Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, the research revealed that individuals with diabetes face a notably higher risk of joint infections and blood clots following total knee arthroplasty (TKA)—a widely used procedure for severe knee arthritis.

The study, published in the Journal of Orthopaedics, found that diabetics are 43% more likely to develop periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) and 45% more prone to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious condition that may lead to pulmonary embolism.

The complications don’t end there. The research also indicated a 28% rise in hospital readmissions among diabetic patients post-surgery, and for those requiring insulin, the risk of perioperative complications climbed by 60%.

“Diabetes adversely affects post-surgical outcomes and limits recovery, especially if blood sugar is not well-controlled around the time of surgery,” the researchers noted. The study also involved doctors from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and Fortis C-Doc Hospital.

With over half of diabetes patients likely to suffer from joint-related issues, the need for future hip or knee replacements is high. But this study underlines the importance of strict glycemic control and better risk assessment for these patients before surgery.

The authors called for more comprehensive studies to define standard metrics for blood sugar control and to better understand the physiological pathways that contribute to these heightened risks. These steps, they noted, could help improve surgical outcomes and long-term recovery for diabetic patients undergoing joint replacement procedures.