Revision Knee Surgery

Although a well-positioned knee joint will last many years, knee joints, like any mechanical structure, will eventually suffer wear and become more unstable and possibly uncomfortable. Patients will notice that the knee joint is not functioning as well and they may experience more discomfort on performing normal activities such as walking, sitting and climbing stairs. The joint may become puffy or swollen and sore.

Over the last 25 years, I have established a recognised referral practice at both St Richard’s Hospital and at my private practice at the Nuffield Health Chichester Hospital. The knee and hip revision services at St Richard’s Hospital have subsequently grown over the years as consultants from the surrounding area of Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire have referred cases for expert evaluation and remedial or revision surgery to remove and replace unsatisfactory prostheses. It is now one of the busiest revision units in the country.

The failure of a knee joint through wear is a gradual process and current implants would normally be expected to last between 15-20 years, depending on the age and activity of the patient. However, the resurfacing or replacement of a knee joint is a demanding, technical procedure for the surgeon and there are a small group of patients for whom knee surgery itself has not been immediately successful. It is recognised that, occasionally, technical errors in implanting a complex knee prosthesis may result in a sub-optimal or disappointing clinical result for the patient. Occasionally, patients may feel they have not gained enough movement in the knee, the knee joint remains more painful or, indeed, is not as functional as the patient would wish. If the implantation of a knee joint or the performance of the knee joint after surgery has been less than satisfactory, or sub-optimal, occasionally it may be necessary to remove the implant and re-perform the surgery.