Knee replacement surgery patients may return to showering much sooner

Patients who undergo knee replacement surgery are often advised to avoid taking showers for at least two weeks as a means to reduce the risk of infection. A new study recently found that this measure may not be necessary. The researchers found no differences in bacterial swabs between patients who waited the two weeks to shower and those who took a shower after two days of surgery.

The researchers followed 32 patients of which half were assigned to shower after two weeks and the other half were allowed to shower once the surgical dressings were removed, which is typically two days post-surgery.
None of the patients developed infections, and those who were allowed to shower sooner were much happier, compared to those who had to wait two weeks.

The researchers wrote, “What is needed now is a larger-scale study that can evaluate if early versus delayed wound cleaning has any effect on surgical-site wound infection risk for [knee replacement surgery].”

Also, read Bel Marra Health’s article on Knee buckling causes, exercises, and treatment options.

Sources:
https://consumer.healthday.com/general-health-information-16/hygiene-health-news-396/delayed-showering-may-be-unnecessary-after-knee-replacement-710967.html