When Should I Consider Knee Revision Surgery?

Knee replacement can be a life changing procedure, providing you with restored function and long-term pain relief after your knee joint becomes damaged or wears out over time. The good news is knee replacement surgery has an extremely high success rate when performed by an experienced board-certified orthopedic surgeon. The ten-year success rate of knee implant procedures exceeds 90%, and knee implants generally last between 15-25 years.

While knee replacement is an extremely safe, successful and long-lasting procedure, it’s important to understand that there may be times when you need revision knee surgery. Sometimes it’s just a matter of time – knee implants aren’t meant to last forever so if you undergo the procedure when you’re relatively young, there’s a good chance you’ll need to have the implant replaced 15-25 years down the road. Other times, you may need revision knee surgery to address a poor outcome from your initial procedure or because a subsequent injury damages the implant.

Regardless of the reason, it’s important to understand when you should consider knee revision surgery and when it’s best to pursue other treatments to alleviate the issues you’re experiencing.

What Is Revision Knee Surgery?

Revision knee surgery is a second knee replacement procedure that is performed to correct a poor outcome from the initial procedure or to replace a failed knee implant. Revision procedures are more complex than initial knee replacement surgeries, and they require extensive planning, longer operating time, and specialized tools and surgical techniques. It’s also important to work with a knee surgeon who has extensive experience performing revision knee replacement procedures and understands the complexities associated with this highly specialized surgery.

There are several reasons why revision knee surgery is more complex than an initial knee replacement procedure:

• The original knee implant must be removed during revision surgery and in most instances, it will have grown into the surrounding bone
• There is less natural bone structure to work with, and a bone graft is often required to replace missing bone and provide additional support for your new knee implant
• There is often extensive damage to existing bones, muscles, ligaments and tissues in the knee region when revision surgery is required

Common Reasons Why You May Need Revision Knee Surgery

You should consider revision knee surgery if you’re experiencing one of the following issues:

• Loosening of the knee implant
• Infection
• Implant wear and tear
• Trauma
• Stiffness
• Knee instability

Loosening of the Knee Implant

In order for your knee implant to function properly, it must remain securely attached to the bone. This is accomplished by cementing the implant into the bone during the initial surgery and over time, the surrounding bone will grow onto the surface of the implant. If the knee implant loosens from the surrounding bone, it can result in pain and instability in your knee. When this occurs, revision knee surgery is often required to correct the problem.

There are several reasons why the implant may loosen from the bone:

• Engaging in high-impact activities on a regular basis
• Excessive body weight that places significant stress on the implant
• Plastic spacer between the two metal components of the implant wears out
• Trauma from a future injury to the knee

Infection

Infection is a potential complication that may occur after any surgical procedure, including knee replacement. This is due to the fact that the metal and plastic surfaces of your prosthetic knee joint can provide a breeding ground for bacteria after your surgery. The good news is that infection after knee replacement surgery is extremely rare, occurring in less than 1% of all procedures. But when an infection occurs, it can be quite painful, resulting in swelling and stiffness in the knee joint. In many instances, the pain, swelling and drainage from the infection will require a revision procedure to correct.

Implant Wear and Tear

In a perfect world, your knee implant would last for the rest of your life. But a prosthetic knee implant is a medical device containing metal and plastic components that will eventually wear down and need to be replaced. Fortunately, knee implants are durable devices that will last for 15-25 years when your procedure is performed properly by a highly skilled and experienced board-certified orthopedic surgeon.

With such a long lifespan, you typically won’t have to worry about your implant wearing out for a long time. However, your age at the time of your initial knee replacement procedure will generally dictate whether you will need a revision procedure down the road to replace a worn-out implant. Younger knee replacement patients – those under the age of 60 at the time of their initial surgery – are likely to need a revision procedure to replace their implant at some point in time. However, if you undergo your first knee replacement later in life, this may not be a concern.

Trauma

Accidents and injuries are an inevitable part of life, and it’s possible that you may suffer an injury that causes trauma to your knee following your initial surgery. This trauma may occur for a variety of reasons, including a car accident, slip and fall accident, or sports injury.

When an accident causes trauma to the knee, you may experience damage to the bone surrounding your implant and revision surgery may be required to correct the issue.

Stiffness

Sometimes, excessive scar tissue may build up around your knee joint after knee replacement. This can result in stiffness that prevents you from achieving the full range of motion necessary to perform routine activities and participate in athletics. Often, this issue can be addressed by manipulating your knee in order to break up the scar tissue. However, if you still experience stiffness that limits your range of motion after this treatment, revision surgery may be needed.

Knee Instability

Your knee implant is designed to work in conjunction with the surrounding ligaments in the joint. If these ligaments become damaged, it may result in knee instability that may prevent your implant from working properly. This is often manifest by a feeling that your knee is “giving way.”

Sometimes this knee instability can be treated with nonsurgical methods such as physical therapy or a knee brace. However, if these treatments aren’t successful, you may need revision knee surgery to restore proper stability and function to the joint.

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Can Help

If you’re experiencing one of the issues discussed above, it may be time to consider revision knee surgery. At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, our team of board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons have been raising the bar for orthopedic care along the Western Slope, and we can help you restore a pain free life.

Our knee surgeon, Dr. Kevin Borchard, has extensive experience performing revision knee surgeries, and he’s developed a strong track record of success that includes patient outcomes which regularly exceed industry standards. Dr. Borchard’s exceptional results are one of the primary reasons why CAO has been recognized by Healthgrades as one of the top hospitals in the country for joint replacement.

When you need a revision knee replacement, it’s critical to work with the best surgeons available to ensure this complex procedure is performed correctly. When you work with CAO, you’ll have peace of mind that your revision surgery is being performed by surgeons who not only have the experience to perform the procedure but also deliver the exceptional patient outcomes you deserve.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.