ARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE JOINT

Total knee replacement implants may fail after 10 to 15 years, or occasionally sooner. The parts may come loose or they may wear out. In either case an operation will be required to replace the damaged part or even the entire implant.

It may also require an increase in the length of the hospital stay. The magnitude of this surgery depends on the difficulty of prosthesis removal and on the quality and quantity of bone left behind after the implant has been removed. The revision operation may require bone grafts from a bone bank to be used. A custom prosthesis is sometimes needed (a prosthesis specially manufactured for a specific patient). Patients who have had knee revision operations are frequently advised to continue the use of a full-time support (such as a cane), in order to protect the replacement. This is especially true of those who are younger than 70, have higher activity levels, increased weight, and other stress factors.