does anyone know how many knee replacements a person can have?

Posted by win sturgeon @cobweb, Mar 26, 2019

I had a tkr 6 years ago and it has come lose. Does anyone know how many tkr a person can have ? I heard only 2.

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@lkunze5

I was hit by a drunk driver and had my left knee replaced at age 45. After rigorous PT and 2 MUAs I had a partial revision, another MUA (with 3 days in hospital on CPM with an epidural) and then a total revision (different surgeons). Then I went on to have arthroscopic surgery to clear scar tissue and another MUA.
Still stuck, implant loosening. Went to another surgeon experienced in multiple revisions 2 hours away and went on to have 2 more total revisions on that same knee a year apart. Now the joint is unstable (my latest surgeon retired) and it's being recommended that I have the spacer sized up but I am consulting with Mayo Clinic because each surgery ends up in the same place- contracture 80 degrees flexion and -7-10 degrees extension. I am now 51 and can barely walk with my good leg starting to show signs of wear and tear because it's doing all of the work. I am so exhausted and trying to maintain some hope that I can resume a somewhat normal life again. I have brought up amputation as an option and no one has said "no" or even been surprised I would consider it. But I see amputees able to do way more than I can and it no longer seems extreme. Generally it's considered with chronic infection and as a last resort but in my case, I am hoping for a better outcome on the knee but I have a life to live. Perhaps it's not the worst thing.

Long story to say- I've had multiple total and partial revisions on the same knee in the span of 6 years and no one has said another cannot be done. The posts are long and getting them out will not be without significant risk of catastrophic breakage but at my age, I will need it done again someday and likely more than once. So I am hoping the technology is advanced at that point and I will be able to retain my leg AND have better function.

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@lkunze5 please consider trying joint spacer. Its 6-8weeks, usually with iv abx via picc line. Has any "bugs" been grown out of your joint cultures? Have you/yoir ortho mds consulted with ID MDs ?

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Repeat bloodwork and cultures have all been negative for infection

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What a horrible experience and story you have. Here I felt sorry for myself after slow recovering and an MUA that seems to be working.
One thing that I have learned, yo know your body and it seems you have to shout out your concerns and find someone who will listen. You are much too young to settle for a non-functioning joint. Maybe you will need a plastic surgeon involved due to what must be extensive scar tissue and perhaps not even workable area any longer? They do that tissue expansion...
You will need a specialist for sure.
Don't give up, and also consider some mental health options as well- I cannot even imagine the pain, frustration and endless PT you have gone through!

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