Revision Knee Replacement Surgery
Use of Advanced technology in knee replacement surgery has made this procedure more accurate and long lasting. The usual life of a successful total knee replacement is about 20 years. It may however vary under individual circumstances. If primary surgery is not successful then a revision knee replacement surgery is required where a part or the whole of the previous knee replacement needs to be revised. There are several reasons for the failure of knee implants. Some of these reasons are wear, loosening, infection, fracture, instability, and patient related factors. An unsuccessful primary knee replacement implant is usually indicated by an increase in pain or a decrease in knee function. Constant pain and swelling points to loosening, wear, or infection, and the location of the pain can be all over the knee or in one particular area. The symptoms of failed primary knee replacement implant are a limp, stiffness, or instability. Patients who demonstrate these symptoms and signs may require revision joint surgery.
While doing revision Total Knee Replacement, the surgeon will remove the primary Total Knee Replacement implants and prepare the bone fresh for revision implants. Removal of primary implant may need specialized tools and burrs. It is a complex procedure that requires extensive preoperative planning, specialized implants and tools, prolonged operating times, and mastery of difficult surgical techniques to achieve a good result. Recovery time after revision knee surgery is as same as primary knee replacement surgery and the results are as good as primary knee replacement surgery.
Greater than 90% of patients who undergo revision procedures can expect to have good to excellent results which includes pain relief with increased stability and function.