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TKR scar tissue removal - Pros and Cons
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Apr 1 2:06pm | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
Hello. I am very interested in responses to your question as well! I am 3 years post TKR. I’m 43 years old, I am the perfect rehab patient always did all my exercises worked extremely hard to get back… and it didn’t really work. My flexion range of motion has gone to 90 degrees despite having 135 at 3 months post TKR, and it continues to decrease despite ongoing ROM work. I’ve also had pain all three years with no explanation from the docs why.
I saw my doc recently and due to my lack of ROM and pain he proposed scar tissue removal + swapping out the plastic shim piece in the middle to something a little thinner. He said it’s a 50/50 chance it will help and as we all know it’s a major open surgery. Would love to hear others thoughts or experience with this procedure, if you’ve had it??
Replies to "Hello. I am very interested in responses to your question as well! I am 3 years..."
I have had 2 knee replacements. A partial and TKR in the last 3 yrs. Results were 90 deg ROM and 13 deg extension. ROM was still limited so I had the polyethylene spacer replaced. Thats when they found my kneecap had dropped an inch. (Patella Baja). There was no way my knee would bend passed 90 deg. So, after the poly replacement, I got a $12 ham string stretcher and used it to straighten my leg. This device straps to your foot and allows you to pull on it to straighten leg and knee. It worked! I got my leg/knee straight but still have problem with extension (75DEG).
I will undergo a minor surgery for patella baja soon and hopefully gain more extension. The hamstring puller and bicycle machine have been most helpful for me to regain ROM. Arthrofibrosis is difficult to deal with and excessive pain while rehabilitating is not necessarily advantageous. In my experience, it causes more scar tissue and loss of movement. I will resubmit findings after next surgical procedure. Don't give up!
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Actually, that's what I had the second time because my Ortho guy said the parts were just fine. He also had me wear a brace for 6 months to try and keep it straight, but after I stopped wearing it, it gradually went back to 30° flexion all the time. This time I'm going to Rochester and replacing everything.