Revision Knee Replacement
What is a Revision Knee Replacement?
Prosthetic knee implants are designed to last for a long time, and most patients will get 10 to 20 years out of them before they break or wear out. When a knee replacement stops functioning correctly, a Revision Knee Replacement is needed. This involves removing the old prosthesis and replacing it with a new one. Revision Knee Replacements are usually more complicated procedures than total knee replacements as our South Coast Orthopaedics surgeon needs to remove the original implant which has grown into the bone.
What happens during a Revision Knee Replacement?
Your surgeon will talk to you about what will happen in your surgery when you attend our rooms for your consultation. Sometimes, only part of the original prosthesis needs to be replaced. In other cases, the entire prosthesis needs to be removed as well as some of the surrounding bone.
In most Revision Knee Replacements, your surgeon will use special implants to replace any areas of bone or soft tissue that are damaged.
In most Revision Knee Replacements, your surgeon will use special implants to replace any areas of bone or soft tissue that are damaged.
What are the benefits of Revision Knee Replacement?
The main benefit of Revision Knee Replacement is a relief from pain. Many patients find that this surgery also improves their mobility, coordination and strength. Some patients find that they can eventually return to normal activities. The success of this procedure strongly depends on your commitment to completing a rehabilitation program after surgery.
How long will I be in hospital?
Most people who have a Revision Knee Replacement are in hospital for four to five days. Your surgeon will discuss your individual hospital stay with you at our consulting rooms prior to surgery.
What is the recovery time?
After you go home, you will need to use a walker or crutches for around two to three weeks. After this time, you will probably use a walking stick. You will also need to have regular physiotherapy and rehabilitation appointments. Normal activities such as climbing stairs and getting into a car will be difficult to begin with, and you should make sure that you don’t need to climb stairs to get to your bed or bathroom. Most patients who have Knee Revision Surgery can resume normal activities after six weeks.
What results should I expect?
Most people who have Knee Revision Surgery experience great results, including relief from pain, improved stability and better mobility. It’s not always possible to completely remove pain and some patients still experience lower level pain and dysfunction after surgery.