Revision of Knee Replacement

A patient undergoes total knee replacement when the cartilages present in the knees of the patient have lost their shape and it is difficult for the patient to even walk or stand. The surgery of total knee replacement is a course to restore the damaged knee joint by a prosthetic implant. The reason for carrying out this operation is mainly to soothe the unbearable patient witness because of arthritis. Revision of knee replacement is the term that describes the situation when a patient has already gone through total/partial knee placement, but is experiencing pain after 15-20 years of the surgery and this operation of the knee replacement is again performed by the doctors. But it is advisable to maintain sufficient duration between the two surgeries.

 

The need of knee replacement surgery

When a person has already opted for knee replacement surgery a long time back, but is still facing stretch, pain or discomfort in the same knee. Theses discomfort arises due to many reasons. Some of them can be fractures, accidents or a wear and tear in the tissues. The best option available for that patient is to opt for revision of knee replacement that is to undergo a surgical process for the second time. This is usually done when the previous surgery had been performed 15-20 years back.

 

The various symptoms

Many of the signs that indicate that patient is at the stage to visit doctor and consult him for the remedies are-

  • Unbearable pain in the region near the knee is experienced.
  • Problem in standing for a long time
  • You can feel terrible Problem in walking and going up the stairs
  • Feeling pain while stretching and folding the legs
  • Fever from the terrible pain.
  • Swelling of the knee is always a prominent symptom that should be taken very seriously and this symptom pledges that there is some problem.

These symptoms if continued demands at least a visit to the surgeon. Post consultation with the doctor, patient knows his exact situation and takes prescription accordingly.

Procedure of revised knee replacement surgery is categorised on the two broader types. These types are total knee replacement and the minimal knee replacement process. The total knee replacement surgery is opted by the patient when the surgery that was performed earlier start causing some pain, discomfort or issues. In this surgery of revision knee replacement the knee joint is replaced with the artificial joint socket. This surgery is highly advisable to the patient with unbearable pain. This surgery helps to reduce the pain to maximum level.

 

The revision of total knee replacement surgery

A need to selects to go for a revision of total knee replacement surgery can occur as a result of misalignment of the prosthesis surgery or slackening of the artificial joint that was used. Many of the procedures are undertaken while performing this surgery. Quite a time it happens that some problems arises during operation. This is reflected when the patient experience some pain. Then doctors perform the revision knee replacement. SO there is no need to extra worry for doing this procedure again.

Different behaviours of techniques are utilised for performing this revision surgery. Most common and updated technique that is the best option for adoption is minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive surgery allows to make a very small cut and incisions in the body of the patient in place of larger cuts that cause extra pain. This is a revolutionary process in the medical science. There are mainly numerous of other ways available in this field, but minimally invasive surgery is the best among all. This technique replaces the natural damaged and injured knee with the artificial joint. This practice of minimally invasive surgery has changed the way of operating and helped surgeons in many ways.

Dr Dhananjay Gupta

Dr Dhananjay Gupta
Director and Senior Consultant,
Orthopaedics and Joint Reconstruction and Replacement Surgeon
Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, Vasant Kunj, Delhi.