Revision Knee Replacement
A revision knee replacement is a surgical procedure to replace a previously implanted knee replacement. It is a specialised procedure which requires specific expertise and planning.
There are Several Common Reasons Why Revision Knee Replacement Surgery May Be Necessary:
Implant wear and loosening:
This is often referred to as aseptic loosening. Over time, the components of a knee replacement may wear down or become loose, leading to pain, instability, and reduced movement.
Infection:
In some cases, an infection may develop in or around the artificial knee joint, causing pain, swelling, and potentially damaging the joint.
Implant failure:
Occasionally, knee implants may fail due to design or manufacturing defects, or other factors like implant dislocation or fractures.

Malalignment/instability:
A knee replacement is soft tissue balancing procedure aiming to optimise patient kinematics. Occasionally the soft tissues can stretch or the alignment and/or soft tissue balancing can be altered leading to an alteration in the patient kinematics and pain. In such cases, revision surgery may be necessary to improve the stability and kinematics around the knee.
Bone loss:
If there is significant bone loss around the knee joint, often due to infection or implant loosening, a revision surgery may be needed to rebuild the bone and implant new implants.
The aim of revision surgery is to address the underlying issues with the primary knee replacement such as instability, malalignment or component wear, to improve overall joint function. The restoration of the natural knee kinematics is a critical goal to optimise patient outcome. In order to achieve this, implant alignment and soft tissue balancing may be adjusted in conjunction with addressing any other issues from the initial primary knee replacement to optimise outcome.
Revision knee replacements are typically more complex than primary knee replacements often using larger more specialised implants to address bone loss and achieve optimum stability and joint function.
The recovery process after revision knee replacement surgery is often longer and more challenging compared to the initial knee replacement procedure. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation are crucial to regain strength, mobility, and function after the surgery.