A hospital's infection rate indicates how well the orthopaedic surgery team does at preventing infection following an operation. In general, major referral centers use preventive measures most effectively and generally have the lowest postoperative infection rates. At some major centers with a great deal of expertise in shoulder reconstruction, the need for transfusion during shoulder surgery may be avoided entirely. DVT Rates Blood clot formation in deep veins, a condition called deep vein thrombosis or DVT, is one of the most common complications of joint replacement or revision surgery for hips and knees. It is not a concern with shoulder replacement or revision.
Blood clots can travel to the lungs where they can be serious, even fatal.
Most hospitals now treat patients with clot-preventing drugs after surgery to decrease the risk of a DVT forming. But, this is no guarantee that a DVT will not occur. Specialized scans can detect a DVT and identify its exact location. When DVTs are detected in this way, they can be treated by medication before they cause problems. Not all hospitals scan for DVTs after surgery.