Revision Knee Replacement
We are so pleased to share this interview from The Bee’s Knees Podcast and KNEE RADIO 1. Podcast host Mary Elliott interviews Sarah Lisieki, an RN in Michigan, about her 20-year journey back to mobility.
Sarah’s 20-Year Journey
As you will hear in the interview above, Sarah’s trouble started with a running injury as she was preparing for a potential Olympic bid. A timeline for Sarah’s knee trouble and eventual revision knee replacement.
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- Running Injury at Age 19
- “Countless” Arthroscopies (10+)
- Total Knee Replacement 2014
- Revision Knee Replacement Spring 2020
- Rehab and Recovery Summer 2020
Revision Knee Replacement means that part or all of your previous knee replacement needs to be revised. This operation varies from very minor adjustments to massive operations replacing significant amounts of bone. The typical knee replacement replaces the end of the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) with plastic inserted between them and usually the patella (knee cap).
Causes for a Revision
Pain is the primary reason for revision. Usually the cause is clear but not always. Knees without an obvious cause for pain in general do not do as well after surgery.
Plastic (polyethylene) wear – This is one of the easier revisions where only the plastic insert is changed.
Instability – This means the knee is not stable and may be giving way or not feel safe when you walk.
Loosening of either the femoral, tibial or patella component – This usually presents as pain but may be asymptomatic. It is for this reason why you must have your joint followed up for life as there can be changes on X-ray that indicate that the knee should be revised despite having no symptoms.
Infection – usually presents as pain but may present as swelling or an acute fever.
Osteolysis (bone loss). This can occur due to particles being released into the knee joint which results in bone being destroyed.
Stiffness – This is difficult to improve with revision but can be improved with the frequent by not painful PT provided by the X10.
Dr. Robert Ference is an Orthopedic Surgeon based in Dearborn, Michigan. He specializes in advanced treatments for hip, knee, shoulder, and other joint pain. To learn more, visit drrobertference.com or call us now at 313-581-2121.