Spacer replacement 4 years after TKR

@irenesara

My husband was having instability and clicking. Dr took x ray. It clearly showed that the spacers were worn out.

Oh boy! You sound exactly like me! I’m so glad I found someone who has the same TKR issues. Had TKR in 2020 and stairs have been painful ever since. I got a 2nd opinion and he said I was cemented and that he would put in a spacer. He also said the recovery and pain would be worse than the TKR. Seriously?! I think I’ll take the elevator for now on. Lol. If you do get the spacer, please let me know how it was. I hope you get relief soon.

@bert5258 please let us know how it goes since I may have to get a spacer too. Thx!

@jerseygirl21
I had my spacer replaced 8 weeks ago and the pain was so much less than I thought- really doing fine now, I wouldn’t hesitate to have it done if needed

My symptoms are exactly like yours but my TKR is only 11 months out and like you, xrays so implant "parts" are correct and stable. I will likely try having the spacer resized but am hesitant because I have had 4 "second opinions" in two separate cities and 2 indicate they would change the spacer size and 2 want to replace the whole artificial knee with completely different "hardware" so I am very confused and frustrated! Wearing a large, complex brace is helpful in allieviating some of the pain so that I can do more; however, when I removed the brace, pain and swelling immediately returns!

You do the plastic spacer surgery? I had my total knee replacement in November 24 and noticed the instability just about 3 to 4 months after the surgery. The surgery did not go well and the surgeon wasn’t listening to me at all. I’m now working with a second surgeon who tells me adding or exchanging the plastic piece and making it 5 mm bigger should help my instability which is side to side, but also global because it buckles and I don’t trust it. You did the surgery how did it go for you@hopelives

@b13moore i’m not sure what I want to do either but I definitely feel your pain! My surgery is not quite two years old and I don’t know whether to undergo another surgery. I read some about replacing the plastic piece and it’s flip a coin on the results as I understand it — tough decision to make i’m not quite sure how to make it!

@kland did you eventually do the spacer replacement and how did it turn out for you? I’m considering it and do not know what to do but I have total instability any help you can provide is appreciated!

@griswald51 h

Hi, my husband just had his right knee spacer replaced. He had tkr 18 years ago on both knees and has had absolutely no problems until recently. His right knee spacer was 10mm and was worn down to 8 mm. They replaced it with a 14 mm. He is two weeks post op. The staples were removed and he started outpatient PT. He will probably do 4 weeks of PT 2-3 times per week and see his surgeon in one month. They will evaluate and then schedule the left knee.
The incision was made along the original incision for the replacement. My husband (78 years old) was in the hospital overnight. They started PT in the hospital, and he got up and walked with a walker. We had an extra railing installed on our back steps, a grab bar installed in our shower and grab bars on either side of our bedroom toilet (you do not need to raise the seat).

My husband has had excellent range of motion with the original replacements, so he should get good range of motion back. I was not married to him when he had his original surgeries, but he has never had any problems with the replacements until they became loose due to the spacers being worn down.