Knee Replacement - Revision
Knee replacement surgery is generally a safe and effective procedure. However, in some patients, the knee replacement may loosen, wear out or develop instability. Patients who develop such complications may experience symptoms such as pain, stiffness and difficulty walking.
The diagnosis of a malfunctioning knee replacement is made after a thorough clinical assessment of the knee joint. X-rays, CT scans and specialized MRI scans may also be needed to confirm the diagnosis and to look for associated problems such as bone loss around the knee replacement.
In patients who develop a malfunctioning knee replacement, revision surgery may be necessary to reduce pain and restore mobility. The surgery involves replacing one or more components of the knee replacement, which have failed. At the same time, areas of bone loss may need to be restored with bone graft from the patient himself (autograft) or from a donor (allograft), or replaced with metal blocks.
Revision knee replacement is a technically demanding procedure and should be carried out by surgeons who are trained and experienced. Such surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia and may take about 2-3 hours to perform. A 3-4 stay in hospital is usually required after the surgery and 2-6 weeks of walking aid-assisted ambulation may be advised.
The rehabilitation process after revision knee replacement is often slower and longer compared to that following primary knee replacement. It may last up to 6-12 months following the revision procedure. The success rate of revision hip replacement has been reported to be approximately 80%. The complications of this procedure include deep vein thrombosis, infection and loosening of the new prosthesis.
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