Spacer replacement 4 years after TKR

@ouch89
This is an update on my 11-30-24 comment. The revision with the thicker spacer had little effect on pain and clunking and the recovery was much better than the original surgery. I was very optomistic during my first 4 months of physical therapy when progress began taking a down-turn. As the pain increased I continued the PT for a full year hoping for improvement. I continued seeing different Orthopedists, because they had different diagnosis, for the next 18 months. The last diagnosis was a loose implant that may explain the pain, but I won't take this to the bank. My personal experience with 3 knee replacements (one revision) is negative with more pain than pre-surgery, limited range of motion, and major reduction of quality of life.

Can I ask a question is it possiable for my spacer to wear out within 7 months I think it was my doctor who perform the surgery now I have to get a new spacer put in by another doctor he referred me to because he kept telling me nuttin was wrong I have been in pain since I had my first knee replacement surgery on march 4 2025

Can I do something about this meaning looking for a lawyer just asking

I hope everything went well. I had my right totally replacement in December, 2020. I have had a golf ball swelling to the left of it ever since clicking and popping and dislocating my knee surgeon recommended increasing the knee Puck size I just don't get why they can't get it right the first time. I am hoping this helps I don't want to be out of work a long time again.

FWIW I have a final summary of my case. The original TKR was done with the wrong parts. My knee required different, stabilization parts due to ligament damage from the car wreck that caused this problem. My daughter and I were hit head-on by a drunk driver 30 years ago. My daughter was 6 and suffered PTSD the rest of her life. My knee was blown open and all three bones were broken. I discussed this with that doctor twice. He missed that damage. And when he finally listened to me, he decided the spacer was too small instead. The spacer swap infected the knee. Six months after that surgery, the doctor admitted he had been 'remiss' and recommended the new parts. I got a new doctor who specialized in knee reconstruction. Two more surgeries later (take the old parts out, disinfect, and put new parts in) and I finally feel like this knee will recover. It has been a year and I am told it could take 2 more to fully recover. I got a referral from a prominent orthopedic surgeon for the first doctor. I went with it and it failed me. I still wonder what I could have done different

I had TKR in Sept 2024. I am experiencing severe hyper extension. I’m using a knee brace that helps prevent the hyperextension. I’ve had 10 months of pt and 4 months of strength building of the knee. I’m considering revision surgery to put in a thicker spacer.
What are your thoughts on undergoing this procedure.
I’m 80 and in good shape.

@prawleyn

What a horrible experience! I am not sure of what you could have done differently. one thing I like to do in finding extraordinary specialists is to ask my doctors who they and their family members have used. Referrals can mean referral fees and favors, personal relationships, etc. But in my experience, all that goes by the wayside when it comes to a doctor's own health (and that of his immediate family).

If, for some reason, you have an existing relationship with a PT facility, you can ask what their experience has been with different surgeons.

One thing you can do is to build a set of surgical criteria (surgical activities you would either like to have your surgeon perform or you don't want your surgeon to perform) and ask your surgeon or his office about them.

But you have a complex case. You acted very reasonably. The only thing I could think of would be to go to one of the outstanding centers of overall excellence such as the Mayo Clinic.

@zaydez
Hi,
I had insert replacement for instability. My only comment is that the revision surgery for the replacement was much less invasive than the full TKR and the rehab was quick and easy.
Good luck.

I am considering having TKR revision surgery. I had my surgery about 2 years ago. I felt that I was well ahead of the recovery curve. After about 3 weeks I was able to walk downstairs linking my steps together (which is the hard part). However, while doing so, I felt like the parts slipped, there was extreme pain, and I fell. Fortunately, I fell on my ass and there was no injury. The pain stopped immediately as I fell. Later that day, the same situation occurred again and again I fortunately fell backward. A few days later at my physical therapy, I was doing an exercise where I was raising up and down on the bad knee when it collapsed on me in front of the PT. He informed the surgeon and he scheduled an x-ray but made no recommendation.

Since then, I have managed the problem. From time to time, I feel the parts slipping. There is pain, I usually scream but usually don't fall and then go back to what I was doing. My balance is very poor but I'm OK as long as there is no pain. I also walk with a very bad limp, and it seems to be getting worse. I'm worried that over time, walking will become very difficult.

I have seen a TKR revision specialist. He ordered a bone scan which showed that my TKR parts have not loosened nor is there any infection. He is hopeful that all that he needs to do is install a bigger spacer to correct my issues. Has anyone had a similar situation to mine where the surgery failed right after the surgery? I've read that the recovery if all that is required is to do is replace the spacer, is much quicker than the full surgery. Could I expect to be able to walk without crutches in 3 to 4 weeks? How long would it take to resume an activity like golf? What is the pain level like? I had opioids after TKR. Are opioids needed just to replace the spacer?

It is good that you have seen the revision specialist. One of my criteria for a TKR surgeon is that she is a revision surgeon. It tends to be more complex and not all surgeons do it and not all who do it do it well but it as at least a good starting point. The original surgeon should have test fitted all the parts with rotation during the surgery.

Do you trust this revision surgeon? If yes, then follow her instructions. If no, then you need to restart your revision surgeon search. Places like Mayo.

While I did not have to have a revision, I did return to golf after the 27th day from a total knee replacement. I call my surgeon a magician.