Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 3/17/2008

Question
i was just wondering if there were any studies on short term memory loss for long periods of time following surgeries?

the reason i ask is i underwent a surgery for an ankle fracture  and i have experienced a noticeable loss of short term memory since that surgery. i would expect to have issues with it shortly after the surgery but my surgery was performed in april of 2005 and i still continue to have problems remembering things. mostly it is small things like conversations with my wife to where i put my keys or shoes ect. but sometimes i have problems with forgetting things at work. this problem doesn't seem to be getting better in the nearly 3 years since my surgery was performed.  is there any way i can get some tests or something to figure out just what exactly is causing this type of memory loss?

Answer
Hi Scot
You don't mention how old you are.
There is evidence that 7% of those over 60 and 14% of those over 70 have major memory problems following anaesthesia which can last a long time and indeed some never get full function back. This is also true but less frequent in younger patients and the effect does usually go away.
How this happens is uncertain and their are a lot of theories now around genetic issues i.e. some people are predisposed to this problem.
There are other possible causes such as low blood pressure during the operation leading to oxygen supply problems to the brain  or certain drugs causing problems with transmission pathways in the brain. I am afraid there are no tests that I know of that will reveal what is causing the problem. The various scans that are available only show major changes in brain structure - they have little use when the problem is most likely at individual cell level.
So I can believe that your problem is related to your anaesthetic and operation but cannot suggest any tests.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson