Hi @lturn9 - I am so sorry to hear about the issues you've had with your failed TKR's. I've had two TKR's and I understand that it would be devastating to find out after the fact that you had this bone cement allergy? Can I ask if you have the same orthopedic surgeon as the one who did the first ones?

I truly am sorry for what you are going though. I appreciate you sharing your story about failure due to allergies, it's stories like yours that me insist to my ortho surgeon that I wanted testing for knee replacement allergies. This recently build, huge state of the art facility is on the outskirts of Springfield MO and is in Ozark MO and is a Mercy facility. They have dozens of surgeons. The appearance inside and out I compare to a luxury hotel. The architecture, furniture, even the set up of the seating areas, art and gorgeous landscaping is first class. All the equipment is shiny and modern. All they do is orthopedics.
Yet---I had to ask and insist on testing. This experienced ortho with a good record and has worked on others I know personally seemed taken aback baffled by my insistence explaining that getting the test and results would slow down the scheduling process which right now was taking 2 months to get scheduled. They are booked solid.
I wondered, "Am I the only one who ever asked for allergy testing?". They had to order in a kit and they drew the blood for me. Not sure why all that took over a month to get accomplished. I had to pay upfront for this $575.00 test and was told they didn't know if I would be reimbursed. They don't bill for this. I paid directly to the testing lab. I am having to figure this out on my own so decided to call Medicare for help which at age 70 I have never done. Medicare was surprisingly helpful with little wait time, they walked me though the steps of self billing for an expense for repayment with both of us on computers so I would know where to find the info and the form and how to fill it out and add additional information. I am in the process of working with the lab and waiting to see what happens. Of course this lab will be out of my Medicare network, but any reimbursement will help.
I truly don't understand why testing isn't required by Medicare or the doctors. I think of the misery inflicted on those with allergies.
From a purely business standpoint think of all the money Medicare will save if many like me are aware of allergies and hold off on surgery so not to be facing multiple redo's like Itrun9 and others.

I have bone cement allergy, found after knee implant. I have had terrible problems with it not bending and now auto immune. I also have trouble taking medicines which they say the cement can be a binder. I am told only cement revisions can be done. Did You have any medicine problems with original implant? Where did you find orthopedist who would do cementless revisions? Thank you!

In reply to iturn9@turn9
I too have a failed TKR from Aug.2019. I never knew that doing allergy testing “was a thing” that was available. Went full steam ahead with my surgery and realized fairly early in during rehab something was wrong! Well 13 mos post op and after seeing 5 other doctors, and a doctor who i went to see for torn rotator cuff, sent me to the last doctor, who in turn sent me for allergy testing.
Results showed I am allergic to bone cement, as well as antibiotic neomycin sulfate! Needless to say I am DEVASTATED. I need a revision, he said I need to do cement less , with no guarantee it will become stable. Someone suggested a press fit, but need to talked to knee doc about this....but you mention a polymer knee, What exactly is that and have you gone ahead with this ?
All of this must wait now, as I’m scheduled for rotator cuff surgery Jan 12, 2021. ALSO IF ANYONE HAS INFO TO SHARE RE ROTATOR SURGERY FEEL FREE TO SHARE WITH ME YOUR EXPERIENCE. Thanks, Irish283