Name a common complication after total knee arthroplasty.

• A. Infection
• B. Osteoarthritis progression
• C. Rotator cuff tear
• D. Hernia

Answer: (A)

Infection is the most common complication after total knee arthroplasty. The implanted prosthesis provides a surface where bacteria can adhere and form biofilms, making infections hard to treat once they establish. Risk comes from skin flora, the surgical field, and patient factors such as diabetes, obesity, or immune suppression, and even with meticulous technique there’s always a real, ongoing risk—typically around 1–2% in primary knee replacements and higher in revisions. Infections can appear early or years later and often require antibiotics plus surgical intervention, sometimes including prosthesis revision. The other options don’t fit this context: osteoarthritis progression doesn’t occur after the joint is replaced, rotator cuff tear is a shoulder issue, and hernia is unrelated to knee surgery.