Death by Orthopedic Surgery: Are You at Risk?
What are your chances of dying in the hospital after orthopedic surgery? This is a grim question. But anyone having major surgery of any kind faces some risk of death. Fortunately, death is rare after surgery on bones, muscles, ligaments, or other soft tissues.
The biggest risk factors for death after orthopedic surgery are age (over 70 years) and hip fracture. Risk also goes up in the presence of kidney or lung disease. Cancer and other diseases put patients at greater risk. For example, research shows that pneumonia is the number one cause of death after orthopedic surgery.
Special care can be given when any risk factors are present. For example, doctors may order closer follow-up after surgery. Antibiotics may be given before surgery to help prevent infection. Less than one percent of patients die after orthopedic surgery. Even so, doctors evaluate each patient to know whether special measures will be needed before or after surgery.
References: Timothy Bhattacharyya, MD, et al. Rate of and Risk Factors For Acute Inpatient Mortality After Orthopaedic Surgery. In The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. April 2002. Vol. 84-A. No. 4. Pp. 562-572.
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