Why Revision Total Knee Replacement Is Required

Knee replacement surgery is suggested for elderly people and those who are suffering from knee problems with no improvement with the help of medicines and exercises. Undoubtedly, you must go for this surgery if you have tried hard to relieve knee pain and uneasiness. In any case, it is highly recommended to consult a preferred surgeon before initiating the surgical process as he’ll be the perfect mentor for you.

Knee replacement surgery has been one of the greatest medical advances of the time. Millions of people across the world have undergone this magical surgery and getting rid of their long time ailment. If we talk just about United States, more than 3, 00,000 hip and knee replacements are performed here every year.

Reasons Knee Replacement Implants May Fail

Although this surgery lasts for more than 15 years in normal cases, you may have to undergo a revision total knee replacement in some scenarios. Here are some key reasons for the failure of knee implant:

  • Loosening

At times, a patient may require a revision of knee replacement due to the loosening of the earlier implant. When implants are first put in, they are placed in a way that they would stay fixed in place for a long time. Conversely, the frictions of knee-joint surfaces rub against each other and wear away the implant surfaces, eventually creating tiny particles. These particles mount up around the joint leading to loosening of the bonds of implants. The whole process is medically termed as aseptic loosening and is the most common reason for hip replacement failure.

  • Infection

Yet another common cause of revision total knee replacement is an infection in the earlier implant. In this case, the implants may remain well-fixed, but the pain and swelling due to severe infection in the operated region make revision mandatory.

  • Dislocation

Implanted knee dislocation is also a cause of failure of the first joint replacement surgery.  Although it is more common in the hip replacement, may happen with the replaced knee as well. Dislocation usually takes place when a person neglects the common restrictions and instructions recommended by the surgeon post first operation and exerts extra pressure than what is manageable on the operated knee.

  • Patient-Related Factors

If a knee replacement surgery has been conducted at a younger or active age, the scope of revision becomes higher. Also, obese patients have a high scope of wear and tear of the implants. Among other common causes related to patients are avascular necrosis and previous hip fracture.

To bring to a close, we may say that the decision to have joint revision surgery depends on more than one reason. As said above, there are fewer chances of revision of joint replacements, yet certain specific causes may result in the need for a revision. This surgery has been declared as a safe one, and you will recover from the after-effects in just six weeks post-surgery.  With modern techniques and materials for revision surgery, the surgeon may easily add more active years to a patient’s life.

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as medical care or medical advice and is not a replacement for medical care given by your physicians or trained medical personnel.

Author Bio:

Jennifer has written many articles on revision total knee replacement surgical procedures, important facts and myths about this kind of surgery and what precautions need to be taken to recover quickly post-surgery.

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