What is a Knee Replacement Revision?

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Article featured on Summit Ortho

Hundreds of thousands of Americans have total knee replacement surgery each year to treat severe knee arthritis that no longer responds to conservative treatments. Conservative treatments are those such as medications, physical therapy, or injections. In this surgery, the damaged joint surfaces of the knee are replaced with artificial metal and plastic implants. These knee implants may last individuals 20 or more years. For some people, their knee implants will last the rest of their lives. However, some knee replacements do not last as long as patients and their providers hope or wear out over time.

“I think every knee replacement surgeon hopes that the knee replacement they do for each patient is the last knee surgery for that individual. But sometimes knee replacements wear out over time or may not function as well as we hoped,” said Summit hip and knee surgeon and total joint replacement specialist Brandon Kelly, M.D.

What is a knee replacement revision?

A knee replacement revision is a surgery to replace one or multiple knee replacement parts with new ones. The specifics of each revision surgery depend on how and where the original implant is failing. Other factors include the individual patient’s age, health, activity level, and other factors.

The need for a knee replacement revision surgery is an individualized decision made between the patient and the surgeon. It is typically recommended when there is a problem with the current knee replacement implants or if the knee is not meeting the patient’s quality of life goals. The decision for knee replacement revision is individualized to each patient’s medical and social factors. Sometimes, surgical intervention may not align with every patient’s goals of care.

“Knee replacement revision is usually a big decision for patients and surgeons. I like to educate my patients on what’s going well and what’s not going well with their current knee replacements. Then we discuss what may or may not be improved with revision knee replacement surgery before proceeding with surgery. I like to understand my patients’ goals to ensure I can meet them before proceeding with surgical intervention,” Dr. Kelly noted.

What else is important to know about knee revision surgery?

Revision knee replacement surgery is typically a more complex, longer, and technically challenging surgery than total knee replacement. That’s why it’s important to choose your knee revision specialist carefully. There are many factors that contribute to postoperative recovery, but recovery time after revision knee replacement surgery in most circumstances is similar to a total knee replacement surgery.

As with a first-time knee replacement, preoperative and postoperative physical therapy is vital to help condition and strengthen the lower extremities.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, foot and ankle conditions, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic and podiatric surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:

503-224-8399

Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

Partial and Total Knee Replacement: How are they different?

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From Noyes Knee Institute

Strong, healthy knees are important for your mobility. Unfortunately, the knee joint is easily injured and is susceptible to damage from arthritis. Any damage or injury to the knee is painful and may limit your daily activities. Depending on which part of your knee is damaged, you may have the option of either a total or partial knee replacement.

Learn more about the difference between partial and total knee replacement to decide which is right for you.

Parts of the Knee

The knee joint consists of four bones: the femur, tibia, fibula, and patella. Four ligaments — two collateral and two cruciate — stabilize the connection of the bones while allowing movement. Menisci, or cartilage, minimizes the trauma of the femur and tibia sliding across each other, and small sacs of fluid between bones allow for smooth movement.

The knee is also divided into three distinct compartments: The medial compartment is the section of knee on the inside of the leg, the lateral compartment is on the outside of the leg, and the patellofemoral compartment is the area directly under the kneecap. A partial knee replacement is done when only one of these compartments is damaged.

Total Knee Replacement

A total knee replacement involves resurfacing the ends of the tibia and femur to remove all the damaged tissue. The damage could be deteriorated bone, cracked bone, or calcified bone as well as the damaged cartilage. Once the bad tissue is removed, metal caps are placed over the bones to recreate their original shape and size. These caps may snap on snugly or be glued in place.

With the bones recreated, the doctor determines whether the kneecap has been damaged or not. If there is damage, the underside will be cleaned, and then a plastic disc will be fit into place. Finally, plastic pacers are placed between all parts that may rub or slide against each other during movement.

Either or both of the cruciate ligaments of the knee may be removed during a total knee replacement if they are damaged. The collateral ligaments are not removed. When a cruciate ligament is taken out, the metal caps over the bones have a ridge or locking mechanism to ensure your bones do not move too far or slip out of place.

Partial Knee Replacement

A partial knee replacement requires the same resurfacing and metal caps but involves either the medial or lateral compartment. If both compartments have damaged tissue, or if the problem is within the patellofemoral compartment, a different treatment is needed.

If your knee is unstable and the bones slip to the side, forward, or backward, partial knee replacement is not an option. In addition, the anterior cruciate ligament must not be damaged for this procedure to work. No ligament is removed during a partial knee replacement.

When only one compartment needs repaired, you may consider a partial knee replacement. If your doctor deems you a good candidate for this procedure you will experience a few benefits over a total knee replacement. One of the most important benefit is that your knee will still function the way it always has because less of the joint is removed and replaced.

With a partial replacement, you may require more surgery and a total replacement in the future. One reason for this is that a partial replacement does not last as long as a total replacement. The other reason is that the remaining natural parts of the joint may become damaged as you age and require replacement too.

The Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. We utilize both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors and congenital disorders.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures.

Our expert physicians provide leading-edge, comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic conditions, including total joint replacement and sports medicine. We apply the latest state-of-the-art techniques in order to return our patients to their active lifestyle.

If you’re looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today.

Phone:
503-224-8399

Address
1515 NW 18th Ave, 3rd Floor
Portland, OR 97209

Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00am – 4:30pm

Total Knee Replacement Portland Oregon, 7 Things to Know About Your New Knee

7 Things to Know About Your New Knee

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From WebMD

Congrats on your new knee! You’re one of 600,000 Americans who get the joint replaced every year. You may be thrilled to walk again without pain or no longer face staircases with dread.

But don’t expect superhuman powers just yet. Here are seven things to know about your newest body part. Read more

The Best Time of Year to Have Knee Replacement Surgery

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Featured on mykneereplacementrecovery.com

You may be wondering when is the best time of year to have knee replacement surgery. Many patients ask this question when considering TKR and the consensus is that the spring and early fall are the best seasons. Read more

Obesity, Weight Loss, and Joint Replacement Surgery

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Article Featured on AAOS

If you need total knee or total hip replacement surgery—and your weight is significantly higher than it should be—your doctor may advise you to lose weight before your procedure. Even though you may feel fit and healthy at your current weight, studies show that a patient with a BMI greater than 40 is more likely to experience serious complications both during and after surgery than a patient of normal weight. Your doctor wants you to be aware of these risks so that you can take steps to minimize them before your procedure.

Read more

First Good Sam robotic-assisted knee surgery patient excited for future

First Good Sam robotic-assisted knee surgery patient excited for future

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For as long as she can remember, Janis McClain loves to swim. “I love the water – I love swimming!” exclaims McClain. “I feel it’s totally part of relaxing. It’s the best on my joints – that’s the reason I do it.”

Read more