Center Home Page Improved alignment of deformed joints. Re-aligning the joints can improve the functioning of those joints, plus make cosmetic improvements. Other health problems must be under control. If you have such medical conditions as heart disease or lung problems, the strain of surgery could be too much for you. Infections also must be cleared up before surgery or they could cause serious complications.
Blood clots can develop.
You can reduce this risk by taking blood-thinning medications and doing leg exercises to increase circulation before surgery. Discuss this potential risk with your doctor long before surgery. Being overweight can add extra stress on your heart and lungs during surgery. Excess pounds can also slow your recovery. If you are overweight, think about the risks carefully and consider losing weight before you decide to go ahead with the operation.