Revision Knee Replacement
When a knee replacement starts hurting, the first job is finding out why, not scheduling another operation.
The short answer
Revision knee replacement is another operation on a knee that has already been replaced. Before discussing surgery, the evaluation must define the cause of pain, instability, stiffness, wear, loosening, infection concern, or other failure.
Diagnosis comes before reconstruction
Not every painful knee replacement needs another operation, and not every source of pain comes from the implant. Prior records, X-rays taken over time, examination, and targeted testing can be important.
Once the problem is defined, the plan may range from non-surgical management to changing one part of the replacement or performing a larger reconstruction.
What makes a second operation different
Revision surgery may involve more scar tissue, bone loss, and medical complexity than a first replacement, and it sometimes uses components that hold the knee more firmly when the ligaments no longer can.
The goals and possible limitations should be discussed on their own terms rather than assumed to match a first knee replacement.
What to bring, and when not to wait
Prior operative reports, implant information, earlier images, laboratory results, and a timeline of symptoms make the first consultation far more useful. The office can help you request records you do not have.
One situation should not wait for an appointment: fever, drainage from the wound, spreading redness, sudden severe pain, or one-sided calf swelling deserves a prompt call, and emergency symptoms should be handled as emergencies.
Use the consultation to make the decision clearer.
- What is causing the symptoms?
- Do I need testing for infection?
- Which records should I bring?
- How do revision goals differ?
Sources and further reading
- Revision Total Knee ReplacementAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons