Loose knee implant

Posted by lmc @lmc, Jul 21, 2024

I had TKR 14 months ago and the surgery was unsuccessful. Now, I am told that the implant is loose. It slips out of position each time I move.
Has anyone had this experience? What is done to rectify this situation?

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Yes I dealt with this and knew from the very beginning something wasn’t right but gave it its year, surgeon felt my knee did t say a word and asked me if I wanted to go to pt. I went there about 5 times each time they would do an X-ray. Anyway I was done with that first guy and got a second opinion and right away he felt it was loose. I had a spacer change and so far it’s okay no hyperextending but I’m still recovering 3 weeks po so we will see. Almost 2 years later dealt with pain upon standing, shifting, pulling, hyperextension, feeling of falling, couldn’t climb stairs without pain, couldn’t climb a curb, etc….horrible it ruined two+ years of my life plus messed up my foot as well due to crappy gait.

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Profile picture for aliciavillarosa @aliciavillarosa

Hi, I've had bilateral replacement and also had 2 revisions because of a loose implant, but it was the spacer/liner that they replaced. The right one was refitted three years ago and seven months I had the left one done. They put in twice as thick of a spacer. That helped us to stabilize the knee. still having some issues with soft tissue an recovery because they can't just swap out the part they have to open the whole knee to check the stability where it is implanted in the femur and tibia. Luckily that was solid.

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Same mine was a 7mm and now a 14mm. At least I don’t hyperextend anymore.

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Profile picture for lmc @lmc

It has been over 2 years since my total knee replacement and I have had nothing but trouble with it. It has been deemed a failed surgery with pain which still wakes me up at night, swelling, and clicking or popping in and around the implant. Within the next 2 weeks, I will be seeing the knee surgeon and will BEG him to order an MRI of the knee. By the way, my original surgeon retired since the surgery and passed me along to a "fresh set of eyes" as he said before he dumped me. The popping and snapping of the joint is getting worse.

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Have you done the spacer change yet? Yeah same my second knee done by a different surgeon went well. First one was issues early on and it’s been a nightmare. I just had spacer change from 7mm to 14mm 3 weeks po so we will see once everyth8ng settles. It has affected my foot since I was walking around so long with this messed up unstable knee.

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Neither surgeon has suggested a spacer. I will ask when I see him next week.
Mt foot has been affected as well, it turns in towards the other foot. My balance is off as well.

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Profile picture for johnflanagan1978 @johnflanagan1978

Hi can anyone tell what their specific symptoms were with loose implants/ spacers. I'm 2.5 years into a disaster now. Had a partial knee replacement in April 23 , it became loose so was replaced in Aug, this still didn't work so had total replacement in Dec 23. Then got sepsis in Jan 24 so had to be opened and washed out. In April this year discovered that sepsis had destroyed my remaining cruciate so knee was dislocating so another replacement, this time a stabilising one. And now I'm here and all seems to be happening again. Pain on both sides, esp after standing or sitting, catching or clunking when walking and feels like leg just dangling. Please help

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I am so sorry to hear of all that you are going through. Would you ever consider a second or third opinion? You shouldn’t have to put up with all of that. I had a right knee replacement five years ago and my knee has never been the same. Other knee needs to be done, but I am just going to “live with it” for as long as I can. I had a very rough recovery. Wishing you all the best. You should seek out an opinion from a top orthopedic surgeon, even if it means traveling to see him/her.

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I have Functional Movement Disorder and it prevents me from walking correctly. Well now, it seems the TKR has been worn because of the muscles.
I can’t imagine having that horrible surgery again.

Unfortunately, my other knee has also been replaced, and I’m worried it will get loose too.

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Profile picture for SusanEllen66 @SusanEllen66

I have Functional Movement Disorder and it prevents me from walking correctly. Well now, it seems the TKR has been worn because of the muscles.
I can’t imagine having that horrible surgery again.

Unfortunately, my other knee has also been replaced, and I’m worried it will get loose too.

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@SusanEllen66, I moved your post about your knee implant becoming lose to a discussion titled:

"Loose knee implant"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/loose-knee-implant/

I'd like to introduce you to @aliciavillarosa, @azi7, @lmc and @ginger9708 who all discussed issues with loose knee replacement components.

@SusanEllen66, how long ago was your replacement? Was it suggested that you have a revision or a new replacement to address the loosening of your knee replacement?

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Profile picture for Justin McClanahan, Moderator @JustinMcClanahan

@SusanEllen66, I moved your post about your knee implant becoming lose to a discussion titled:

"Loose knee implant"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/loose-knee-implant/

I'd like to introduce you to @aliciavillarosa, @azi7, @lmc and @ginger9708 who all discussed issues with loose knee replacement components.

@SusanEllen66, how long ago was your replacement? Was it suggested that you have a revision or a new replacement to address the loosening of your knee replacement?

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@JustinMcClanahan I saw my surgeon yesterday. He said that my replacement is fine. The problem is with muscle atrophy. I need to try and strengthen my quads.

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Profile picture for Justin McClanahan, Moderator @JustinMcClanahan

@SusanEllen66, I moved your post about your knee implant becoming lose to a discussion titled:

"Loose knee implant"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/loose-knee-implant/

I'd like to introduce you to @aliciavillarosa, @azi7, @lmc and @ginger9708 who all discussed issues with loose knee replacement components.

@SusanEllen66, how long ago was your replacement? Was it suggested that you have a revision or a new replacement to address the loosening of your knee replacement?

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@JustinMcClanahan
Knee replacement was in May, 2023.

Only suggestion was a possible revision which I declined because of other health issues.

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Hi, yes it's been a journey and as I said in previous post bilateral knee replacement both at the same time and then subsequently two revisions because of loosening implant. I have most likely laxity in soft tissue( tendons, and ligaments) hypermobile which contributed to having had to have the knee replacements in the first place and also some subsequent issues. Because Post surgery the implants were solid but problems. the spacers were not thick enough to provide stability. I'm still trying to sort it all out. I have a wonderful osteopath an excellent diagnostician who can really look at the soft tissue since the hardware is fine. Some issues with IT band and tendons becoming inflamed around the implant. I have had multiple rounds of shock wave therapy, which I think in the long run were helpful, but I'm still continuing with acupuncture. It's been a lot of unpredictable up and down. And then last week knee kind of flamed out last week so ostheopath did another round of dry needling. I've also had PRP which I might do again. But let me reiterate it's a journey trying to get back to the best I can be.

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