Knee replacement and the risk of clots

If you have varicose veins and are planning knee replacement surgery, it’s important to know that blood clots can be a possible complication after surgery. A large U.S. study that reviewed insurance claims from thousands of patients undergoing knee replacement found that those who had varicose vein treatment before surgery had fewer clot-related complications than similar patients who did not have their veins treated.

The biggest difference was a lower rate of pulmonary embolism, a serious type of clot that travels to the lungs. The April 2025 study suggests that treating varicose veins ahead of time may help reduce clot risk after knee replacement—especially in people who already have risk factors. 

With varicose veins, or venous insufficiency, toxins in blood don’t return to the kidneys and lungs for elimination efficiently, leading to inflammation. The blood flow in these veins can be ‘sluggish’, which combined with the trauma of surgery, makes blood clots more likely.

Talk with us about your personal risk of clots and whether evaluating or treating varicose veins before surgery might be beneficial for you, especially if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• leg pain or swelling
• heaviness or fatigue
• itching, tingling or burning
• inflammation
• skin discoloration
• restless legs syndrome.

Note: Our popular Elite Vascular Wellness Program is now open to the public. Call our offices to RSVP for a free introductory seminar on February 19 at 6 p.m.

Dr. Sonja Stiller is a diplomat of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and the UIP 2023 lead chair for scientific abstracts. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care and Elite Vascular Wellness, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System. The center is at 7200 Mentor Ave. in Mentor. For an appointment, call 440-710-1140 or visit YourHealthyVeins.com.