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.

Revision Hip Replacement Surgery

Total Hip Joint Replacement is one of the most successful contemporary surgical procedure. Recent advanced techniques, improved implant characteristics, aggressive physical rehabilitation and a focus on pain management have all contributed to excellent outcomes of hip joint replacements.

Total hip replacement surgery involves replacing both the ends of the hip joint.  In total hip replacement surgery, the surgeon replaces the upper end of thigh bone (femur) head with a metal ball and resurfaces the cup like shape of hip bone (Pelvis) with metal liner which is called prosthesis.  The usual life of prosthesis (implant) is 20-25 years but in some circumstances the hip joint may fail because of loosening, infection, wear, fracture to the joint and dislocation. The failure of primary hip replacement surgery causes severe pain and abnormal motion for the patient.

During the revision hip replacement surgery orthopedic surgeon removes failed primary hip replacement prosthesis (implant) and replaces the joint with revision prosthesis.  The revision hip replacement surgery needs special expertise as it requires removal of one/both components and replacement by filling the bone voids with bone graft or special revision implants.  This should be done at units which deal with high volumes of hip replacement and have dedicated operating room and teams for joint replacements.

Recovery time may be same as primary hip replacement surgery and the results are as good as primary hip replacement surgery.  Relief from pain, restoration of function in hip and improved quality of life are the main benefits of revision hip replacement surgery.  This surgical procedure enables patients to return to normal activities with a pain free hip.

Revision hip replacement surgeries are challenging and complicated procedures and need a very efficient joint surgeon with professional expertise.