Revision Joint Replacement
Infection is a potential complication that can arise in any type of surgical procedure, including total knee replacement surgery. A post-operative infection can develop soon after the surgery or years down the line. Infections can spread from recent colds or urinary tract infections and can affect the joint replacement. When an artificial knee joint gets infected, it can become swollen, painful, and stiff. The infection may also cause the implant to detach from the bone. Treating an infection surrounding a knee replacement often requires one or more revision surgeries. It is essential to be aware of the risk of infection during total knee replacement surgery and to take precautions to minimize the chances of it occurring.
The majority of knee replacement implants are reliant on the patient's pre-existing ligaments for proper function. In the event that the ligaments around the knee are damaged during or after the procedure, or if they were not balanced correctly, the knee may feel unstable and loose. Patients may also experience recurring swelling and a sensation of the knee giving way.
If these symptoms cannot be improved through non-surgical interventions, such as physical therapy or bracing, revision surgery may become necessary.
Occasionally, certain patients experience difficulty in rehabilitating their knee replacement post-surgery, leading to stiffness in the knee joint. Without prompt intervention through physical therapy or manipulation under anesthesia within the initial months, the stiffness may persist. In such scenarios, a revision surgery might be required to eliminate the extensive scar tissue and/or replace the knee components, enhancing the patient's range of motion. This may be necessary for individuals who have undergone knee replacement surgery.
A periprosthetic fracture pertains to the condition where a bone around the components of a total knee replacement breaks due to a fall. Revision surgery is usually necessary to address this type of fracture. In determining the extent of revision required, an Orthopaedic specialist will consider various factors such as the fracture's type and location, the quality of the remaining bone, and the looseness of the implant. The revision surgery may involve fixing the fracture alone, fixing the fracture while revising the implant, or replacing the implant and fracture pieces with a larger and more complex total knee replacement.
Infection
Infection is a possible complication in any surgical procedure, including total knee replacement. An infection may occur at any time from shortly after surgery to years later. Infection can spread from recent colds or urinary infection to involve joint replacement.
If an artificial knee joint becomes infected, it often will become swollen, painful and stiff. The infection may cause the implant to lose its attachment to the bone. Infection around a knee replacement requires one or more revision surgeries to treat the infection.
Most implants are designed and rely on the patients existing ligaments for the knee replacement to work appropriately. If the ligaments around the knee become damaged during or after the surgery or were improperly balanced, the knee will likely feel unstable and loose. The patient may experience recurrent swelling and the sense that the knee is “giving way.” If knee instability cannot be treated with nonsurgical processes such as physical therapy and bracing, revision surgery may be needed.
A periprosthetic fracture is a broken bone around the components of a total knee replacement. A fall most often causes this type of fracture, and usually requires revision surgery. In establishing the extent of the revision required, the Orthopaedic specialist will take into account a number of factors, including the location and the type and of fracture, the quality of the remaining bone, and if the implant is loose. Revision surgery may require fixing the fracture alone, fixing the fracture and revising the implant, or completely removing the implant and fracture pieces and replacing with a larger more complex total knee replacement.
Rarely, patients are unable to appropriately rehab a knee replacement after surgery and the knee will get stiff. If this is not treated within the first few months by physical therapy or a manipulation under anesthesia, the stiffness will persist. In this case, revision surgery may be necessary to remove the extensive scar tissue and/or change the components in the knee to improve the patient’s range of motion.
How We Can Help
If you are facing discomfort or difficulties with your knee replacement surgery, seek an evaluation from our expert joint replacement surgeon, Dr. Potla Sivaiah. He will thoroughly scrutinize your case to assess if revision surgery could be a suitable solution. This evaluation will include an examination of your prior surgical records and images, a comprehensive physical check-up, and specialized tests to identify potential reasons for your symptoms. Furthermore, the advantages of revision surgery will be explained to the patient in detail. Although the primary objectives of revision knee replacement and primary knee replacement are generally to alleviate pain and enhance function, the former surgery is distinct from the latter. Revision knee replacement surgery is often lengthier and more intricate, necessitating specialized planning, tools, and implants to achieve a more favorable outcome.
There are various types of knee revision surgeries available. In some instances, only one component of the prosthesis needs replacing; in others, multiple or all components require replacement. More complex revisions often call for specialized implants and augments to replace damaged bone and ligaments.
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