Why Revision Knee Replacement Is the Best Solution to Your Pain

When you are hurt for a long time, you tend to get used to it. You learn how to manage the pain and live with it. You ignore the pain as much as possible in your day-to-day activities and focus on other things instead. But that also means that you will begin taking the pain for granted and take active steps to see what can be done about it. If getting through the day becomes harder because of knee pain, you might think about surgical options. There are various surgeries available, but what is best for you depends on various factors. The following article goes into detail about revision knee replacement surgery and why it may be the best option for you if other treatments have failed or not been successful enough.

What is Revision Knee Replacement?

Revision knee replacement is a second knee replacement surgery in which the patient’s damaged knee is replaced with an artificial implant. It can be performed to repair or replace a failing knee joint and restore motion and function. Revision knee replacements are often recommended if a patient has experienced wear-and-tear damage, such as arthritis, bone fractures or osteoarthritis.

With revision knee replacement, doctors remove the old implant and replace it with a new one that’s been custom-made for the patient. The new implant can be made from metal, plastic or titanium, and is attached to the femur (thighbone) with a metal or ceramic pin. In addition to providing support for the knee, the implant also helps protect against future wear-and-tear damage and prevents further deterioration of the joint.

When you get a knee replacement, the goal is to create a new joint surface between the knee and the bones. That way, you can walk better and with reduced pain. If the surgery is successful, you will have a new knee joint that is better than what you had before. But what happens if the surgery fails? That is when you will need to get a revision knee replacement. A revision knee replacement is the same procedure where you get a new knee joint implanted inside your knee. The only difference is that this time, it is done as a corrective surgery, not for the purpose of removing your pain. There can be many reasons why a knee replacement fails, but often it is because the implant is not placed correctly or the implant itself is not appropriate for the patient’s health and lifestyle.

Why does a knee need revision surgery?

Knee injuries are among the most common and painful conditions. In the knee, a ligament, muscle, or cartilage may be injured. Cartilage is the smooth, rubbery tissue that helps to cushion the ends of bones. Ligaments are strong bands of fibrous tissue that connect bone to bone. They can become loose or torn as a result of trauma (such as from a fall), overuse (such as from playing soccer), or injury (such as from a twist). Muscle is the group of cells found in your body that help you move. A tear or injury to one of these tissues can cause pain and swelling. This can make it difficult for you to walk comfortably and may decrease your range of motion.

Knee replacement surgery is used when other treatments have failed to resolve symptoms caused by an injury to the knee joint, such as chronic pain, instability, and swelling. The goal of this surgery is to restore proper functionality and strength to the knee joint. The procedure involves replacing a damaged knee with an artificial implant that is attached directly to the bone using screws and pins. The implant can either be made from metal or plastic and may be covered by an outer covering known as a shell. As mentioned above, knee replacement surgery is a very common procedure that lots of people get done. However, the success rate of this surgery can vary, and it is not uncommon for people to need revision surgery. In fact, it is estimated that around 20% of knee replacement surgeries are revisions. So, why do patients need revision surgery?

Here are some of the most common reasons:

Failure of Implants – When a surgeon places new knee implants in a knee replacement surgery, they use different types of implants depending on the patient’s age, risk factors, and lifestyle. But even with the best and most appropriate implants, there is always a chance that they will fail.
Implant malposition – This happens when the knee replacement surgery is successful in relieving the pain and discomfort in the knee but the implant is not placed correctly. This can happen due to a mistake in surgery or an error on the surgeon’s part.
Patient’s Health – There are times when a patient’s health and lifestyle do not match the type of implants used for surgery. In such cases, the implants may fail and lead to the need for revision surgery.

What You Can Expect After Revision Knee Replacement Surgery

As with any other surgery, it is important to understand what to expect after revision knee replacement surgery. Here is a breakdown of what to expect after revision knee replacement surgery:

Recovery – It is estimated that it takes around three to six months for a patient to fully recover from a revision knee replacement surgery. This is a little bit longer than a regular knee replacement surgery, as it involves replacing the entire knee joint instead of just the surface.
Pain – You will be in a lot of pain after revision knee replacement surgery, even more than after regular knee replacement surgery. This is because you will be recovering from an extremely invasive procedure, and the tissue may be swollen and bruised as well.
Rehabilitation – You will be required to do lots of rehabilitation exercises after revision knee replacement surgery to regain normal knee movement and flexibility. This is because the entire knee joint will be replaced and not just the surface, and so you will have to build muscles and regain knee flexibility.

Pros of Revision Knee Replacement Surgery

You will regain knee pain-free movement – After a revision knee replacement surgery, you will have flawless knee movement and no pain in the knee. This is because you will have a brand new knee joint that is placed in the correct way for your body type.
It is an alternative to amputation – If you have advanced arthritis in your knee joint and there is no other solution for your knee pain, you may be advised to get your knee joint removed. But revision knee replacement surgery is an alternative to amputation.
Fewer side effects – Revision knee replacement surgery is often done when other treatments have failed or have not been successful enough. This means that you have been through a lot of pain and discomfort, so the surgery is less likely to cause side effects.

Cons of Revision Knee Replacement Surgery

Very invasive surgery – Revision knee replacement surgery is a very invasive surgery that can cause extended pain and discomfort. It can also leave scars, although if you get the surgery done in a reputed hospital, your scarring will be minimal.
Longer recovery time – This is due to the fact that revision knee replacement surgery is an extremely invasive surgery that requires an open incision inside the knee. This means that it takes longer for the wound to heal and for the patient to fully recover.

Conclusion

If you have tried other treatments for your knee pain and they have failed, it may be time to consider revision knee replacement surgery. This is a very invasive surgery that can cause extended pain and discomfort, but that is why it can be the solution to your knee pain. It can replace your knee joint and bring back pain-free movement to your knee.