Are You A Candidate For Knee Revision Surgery
If you think you are experiencing the abovementioned symptoms that may qualify you for a knee revision surgery, you should speak to your doctor first and foremost. Your doctor will be able to determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure according to the symptoms you are having.
If you or your loved one received an Exactech knee, ankle, and hip replacement for your surgery and are having signs that may be indicative of implant failure, you may be eligible to file a case against the products manufacturer.
Do not hesitate to contact us today to explore your legal options with our experienced and reliable personal injury lawyers.
When A Knee Replacement Is Needed
Knee replacement surgery is usually necessary when the knee joint is worn or damaged so that your mobility is reduced and you are in pain even while resting.
The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis. Other health conditions that cause knee damage include:
- knee deformity with pain and loss of cartilage
Loosened Knee Replacements Cant Repair Themselves On Their Own
A loosened implant requires surgery to correct, says Henry Boucher, MD, clinical instructor of Adult Reconstruction, Medstar Union Memorial Orthopaedics, Baltimore, MD.
There is just no way around this. The alternative is to live with pain, and the pain from a failed knee replacement will get worse. Your only recourse, unfortunately, is the revision surgery.
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What Is The Best Age To Have Knee Replacement Surgery
There is no such right or wrong age for knee replacement surgery. The age bracket of 50 to 70 years is knee replacement patients most common age group.
A systematic review by the Knee Surgery and Related Research in 2020 shows that the surgeries performed between 70-80 years of age show good outcomes. The outcome is best if the knee surgery was performed at 70 years of age.
Lastly, there wasnt any significant difference observed in the revision or mortality rates between the age group of 70- 80years of age. Although, with increasing age, the mortality increases. Therefore, the recommended optimal age to undergo knee replacement is considered to be the early 70s.
A patient below the age of 50 years is considered a young patient for surgery. Opting for such major surgery at such an age is generally not recommended, although nowadays, patients are undergoing it.
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What Happens After Knee Replacement Surgery
Some people go home the same day they have surgery. Other people will stay in the hospital a few days. To help prevent blood clots, you’ll most likely take blood thinners and wear special socks or coverings on your legs for a short time after surgery.
The success of your surgery depends a lot on what you do at home to help yourself recover. A physical therapist will teach you exercises to make your knee stronger and help it bend. It is important to do these exercises regularly. You may need to use a cane or walker for several weeks after the surgery. It will probably also be several weeks before you can drive. Your doctor will tell you when you can start driving again.
Most people who follow their recovery instructions can get back to nearly all of their normal daily activities within 3 to 6 weeks after surgery.
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Joint Injections: Knee Replacement Alternative Gel
Another alternative recommended by doctors and surgeons is gel knee injections, also known as viscosupplementation.
The injectables contain hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring compound found in the synovial fluid of the joints. The gel-like substance aids in joint lubrication, reduces inflammation, and promotes bone and cartilage growth.
Knee replacement alternative gel injections have been used for decades and are often a recommended course of action before a doctor recommends surgical therapy. A 2019 study found that newer monoinjections of hyaluronic acid gel can be just as effective as older options that require multiple once-per-week injections. This is great news as it means fewer trips to the doctor, less money out of pocket, and less pain.
Unfortunately, this, too, is often just a temporary solution. If a patient has osteoarthritis, the disease will continue to progress, and eventually surgery will be recommended by the patients doctor.
NSAIDs and gel injections can be effective. Oftentimes, though, they are just temporary solutions.
New Quad Sparing Technique May Provide Faster Recovery For Patients With Arthritis Of The Knee
Edited by Seth S. Leopold, M.D., Professor, UW Orthopaedics & Hip & Knee
OverviewKnee replacement is a surgical procedure that decreases pain and improves the quality of life in many patients with severe knee arthritis. Typically patients undergo this surgery after non-operative treatments have failed to provide relief of arthritic symptoms. Surgeons have performed knee replacements for over three decades generally with excellent results most reports have ten-year success rates in excess of 90 percent.
Broadly speaking there are two types ways to insert a total knee replacement: the traditional approach and the newer minimally-invasive approach.
Traditional total knee replacement involves a roughly 8 incision over the knee a hospital stay of 3-5 days and sometimes an additional stay in an inpatient rehabilitation setting before going home. The recovery period typically lasting from one to three months. The large majority of patients report substantial or complete relief of their arthritic symptoms once they have recovered from a total knee replacement.
The main potential benefits of this new technique include:
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Things You Should Know Before Considering Knee Replacement Surgery
Whether your doctor tells you this or not, there are several great knee replacement alternatives available today. The alternatives are designed for those people who want relief from their knee injury or osteoarthritis, without the need for invasive surgery.
Below is a closer look at just what is involved in knee replacement surgery, and several successful knee replacement alternatives that are proven very effective at treating injuries, arthritis and osteoarthritis.
When Is It Too Late To Get A Hip Replacement
Despite this, you are never too old to have your hip or knee replaced. Dr. Piuzzi maintains that there is no age limit for joint replacement. Hip or knee replacement has been shown to benefit older people, as well as younger people, in studies.
Hip replacement is the most common type of surgery. Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is the most common cause of hip replacement in the United States. Hip replacement can be performed on a patient at any time. However, there are a few factors to keep an eye out for that could indicate a need for surgery. As a result of hip replacement surgery, your quality of life may suffer greatly. If you want to make an informed decision about when you should have surgery, you should know what it is. He is pleased to see that NHS Choose Patients are receiving direct referrals from their GP or specialist physiotherapist.
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Looking For Alternatives To Total Knee Replacements
We’re also funding research which is investigating alternative approaches to total knee replacement. For example, total knee replacement is not recommended for many young people. This study aims to develop a new method called ToKa®, which uses images of the patient’s joint and specially designed software to design a patient specific implant that will be made via 3D printing. If successful, this technique could prevent osteoarthritis patients from needing total joint replacement.
Five Reasons Why Knee Replacements Fail
Wear and loosening
Properly functioning implants depend on their appropriate fixation to the bone. Fixation is usually achieved by cementing the implant onto the bone. Some surgeons prefer instead to use biologic fixation, meaning no cement placed between the implant and the bone.
Although implants are firmly fixed at the initial knee replacement surgery, they may become loose over time. The cause of loosening may not always be clear but high impact activities, excessive body weight and wear of the polyethylene component may all act as contributing factors. Friction caused by the joint surfaces rubbing against each other wears away the surfaces of the implant, creating tiny particles that accumulate around the joint. In a process called aseptic loosening, the bond of the implant to the bone is destroyed by the body’s attempt to digest these wear particles. During this process, normal, healthy bone is also digested , which can weaken or even fracture the bone.
When the prosthesis becomes loose, the patient may experience pain, change in alignment, or instability.
Infection
Revision surgery of the infected knee can take several forms. Depending on the degree of infection and damage, the surgeon will determine one of two basic courses of action:
Instability
Leg fractures
Stiffness
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Hyaluronic Acid Injections Can Help Knee Pain By Lubricating Your Joints
Your body makes hyaluronic acid naturally. Its a fluid that helps lubricate your joints in order to protect them from wear and tear. Think of it as a shock absorber for your knees.
Injecting more hyaluronic acid into your knees can help boost your bodys natural supply. And more hyaluronic acid may help better protect your knees and reduce knee pain.
Though these injections can offer significant pain relief, they may require several injections over a few weeks before you feel any relief.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Gae
Genicular artery embolization is ideal for patients who have tried NSAIDs or knee injections without results or long-term relief. Its also ideal for patients who do not want to go through an invasive surgical procedure or are not a good candidate for surgery.
Other indications that GAE is a good option for a patient:
- They experience moderate-to-severe knee pain
- They have localized tenderness
- An osteoarthritis diagnosis has been confirmed with an x-ray
- The patient does not have any bone deformities
- Other conservative treatments have failed to give the patient positive results
Knee pain sufferers who are not good candidates include patients with end-stage osteoarthritis, a malignancy, an infection, or an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis.
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How Painful Is A Knee Revision
While pain relief with increased stability and function is usually expected, there is no guarantee that full pain relief and functional restoration will be possible. A small percentage of patients who have had their knee implants revised may still experience pain after surgery. After the procedure, the problem can persist for several years.
Why Revision Surgery Is More Complicated Than Initial Surgery
Its important to note that a revision knee replacement doesnt provide the same lifespan as the initial replacement . The accumulated trauma, scar tissue, and mechanical breakdown of components lead to diminished performance. Revisions are also more susceptible to complications.
A revision procedure is typically more complex than the original knee replacement surgery because the surgeon must remove the original implant, which would have grown into the existing bone.
In addition, once the surgeon removes the prosthesis, there is less bone remaining. In some instances, a bone graft transplanting a piece of bone transplanted from another part of the body or from a donor might be required to support the new prosthesis. A bone graft adds support and encourages new bone growth.
However, the procedure requires additional preoperative planning, specialized tools, and greater surgical skill. The surgery takes longer to perform than a primary initial knee replacement.
If a revision surgery is necessary, youll experience specific symptoms. Indications of excessive wear or failure include:
- diminished stability or reduced function in the knee
- increased pain or an infection
- a bone fracture or outright device failure
In other cases, bits and pieces of the prosthetic device may break off and cause tiny particles to accumulate around the joint.
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If Youve Had A Knee Replacement And You Develop Problems With It Knee Revision Surgery Can Help Relieve Pain And Improve Function
If youve had total joint knee replacement, you have probably benefitted from the procedure that has a record of success in most cases.
However, over time some people develop problems that can cause pain, swelling and difficulty with function. If this occurs, knee revision surgery may be a recommended option for you.
What’s Included In Revision Knee Surgery
Your orthopedic knee surgeon will perform a series of tests and medical imaging exams to determine the extent of your prosthetic joint failure. Once your specialist knows exactly what’s causing the issue, he or she will create a personalized treatment plan.
Because revision surgery requires removing a prosthetic implant and cleaning the area in preparation for a new implant, the procedure may take longer than your initial joint replacement surgery.
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Understanding Why Some Joint Replacements Fail
We’re also supporting research to improve the outcome of knee replacement surgeries, such as a project aimed at increasing the understanding of why joint replacements sometimes fail by investigating whether there are genetic risk factors that influence surgery outcome. This research has the potential to improve patient experience and increase the life of the joint replacement.
How Much Does Knee Revision Surgery Cost
In the United States, total knee replacement surgery can cost as little as $15,000 or as much as $70,000. According to a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association study, knee replacement surgery costs $31,124 on average.
There has been a significant increase in revision TKA procedures in recent years, as a result of the increasing popularity of total knee arthroplasty combined with the aging US population. The number of revision procedures is expected to increase from 37,544 in 2005 to 56,918 in 2020. This type of procedure is expected to cost $2 billion in hospital costs by 2030. Following cost containment, the hospital costs of primary and revision total knee arthroplasty are compared. The National Natural Science Foundation of China has published an article citing progress in osteoarthritis research. It is available for free on PMC. This study compared the TKR wear of surgical components to nine alignment parameters in an in silico study.
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Unispacer Knee Replacement Alternative
When a patient has osteoarthritis, their knee cartilage progressively wears away, leaving the femur and tibia bones to rub against each other without a cushion. The result is pain, stiffness, inflammation, and bone spur development.
Scientists have developed a device called the Unicondylar Interpositional Spacer or Unispacer. The device is inserted into the knee joint. It acts as a spacer to separate the two leg bones. The procedure is less invasive than knee replacement surgery but is not as effective for most patients with advanced arthritis.
Joint Supplements For Knee Pain
Some people with knee pain take nutritional supplements called glucosamine and chondroitin. These are substances found in cartilage, and they help to maintain cartilage structure and slow cartilage deterioration in joints.
Supplements in higher doses have been shown to reduce pain for about 60% of the people who take them. While this isnt significantly high, for some it is worth a try as an alternative to surgery. Because they are used by your body to make cartilage, it may take up to 6 weeks to notice a difference.
What are the best joint supplements for knee pain? Talk to your doctor to find out if supplements might be a good option for you. And dont forget to read labels carefully, as many of these supplements are made from shellfish, but there are some vegan versions as well.
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How Is It Performed
A revision knee replacement can typically be performed through a similar incision as the original knee replacement. The incision itself may be longer since increased exposure is typically needed. Sometimes, if the old knee was relatively stiff, additional soft tissue releases may need to be performed in the knee to adequately perform the surgery. This may alter some of the early post-operative rehabilitation to allow this to heal appropriately. Sometimes, more than one surgery is needed in order to have a functional knee. This is particularly true when the knee has to be revised for infection
The National Joint Registry
The National Joint Registry collects details of knee replacements done in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Although it’s voluntary, it’s worth registering. This enables the NJR to monitor knee replacements, so you can be identified if any problems emerge in the future.
The registry also gives you the chance to participate in a patient feedback survey.
It’s confidential and you have a right under the Data Protection Act to see what details are kept about you.
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What Is The Success Rate Of Revision Knee Replacement
TKA revision surgery improves performance and alleviates symptoms in patients who have had TKA surgery in the past. In general, the survival rate decreases gradually over time, from 90% at five years and 75% at ten years to 80% at five years and 75% at ten years.
It is a difficult procedure to perform a revision total knee replacement . Even though there are some positive results, the outcomes are worse than those of primary TKA. Sepsis, loosening, and instability are the most common causes of TKA failure. When assessing the factors that contribute to surgical revision, there are a number of factors that must be considered. TKA revision is not easy, and it necessitates high equipment and high costs. Complications can range between 5 and 50% in revision TKA, depending on the literature. Depending on the type of revision implant, survival ranges from 75-80% after ten years.