REVISION HIP & KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY
Why would revision hip and knee surgery be needed?
Though orthopaedic surgeons can replace damaged joints and other tissues of the hip and knee with prosthetic implants, these implants are still susceptible to infection and damage. Revision surgery is needed when the prosthetics used to replace hip or knee joints suffer wear and tear over time.
When patients who have had total hip replacement surgery or knee arthroplasty begin to experience symptoms such as pain and swelling in previously repaired joints, this could be a sign that wear and tear, infection or damage has occurred. In these cases, Dr Stander will perform revision hip or knee surgery to replace the affected prosthetic components.
How is it done?
If replacement knee joints have been damaged, Dr Stander will perform revision knee surgery, also called revision knee arthroplasty. During this procedure, the artificial joints of the affected knee will be carefully removed, and Dr Stander will work to replace each component. Wires, screws and cement may be used during this process to fix the new prosthetic implants to the bones that meet in the knee. If infection has set in, however, Dr Stander will have to insert a cement spacer block into the knee and allow the infection to heal over several weeks before new prosthetic implants can be inserted.
Similarly, revision hip replacement surgery involves the removal and replacement of damaged or worn prosthetic hip joints. During this procedure, Dr Stander will cut away the old prosthetic components. If infection has set in, this will be allowed to heal over several weeks before a prosthetic ball and socket are implanted to serve as the new hip joint.