Knee Replacement Failure - Need total reconstruction

Posted by babette @babette, Jul 27, 2019

I'm pretty devastated, everyone. I had my R TKR a year ago and always knew something wasn't right. My initial surgeon said everything looked great and to give it time, PT, etc. Well I went to one of the top ortho hospitals in the country yesterday and saw a surgeon who comes very highly recommended. He told me my femur is out of alignment, there is a problem with a ligament, and my knee cap is off to one side. I wish I had written down more specifics, dh was with me but once we heard this would all have to be redone, I think we went into kind of shock and didn't process the details very well. **He understood completely why I've been in so much pain this past year. ** He referred me to a colleague who does more complex revisions than he does and I feel great about that but have to wait a month to see him and begin the process. All over again. I have no idea what this will be like, the actual surgery, recovery, etc.

I'd love to hear from others who have gone through this. Also, has anyone successfully sued the surgeon who screwed up? I'm furious to have lost a year of my life to this and now even more time to the repair and recovery.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

JK | @contentandwell | Jul 28, 2019

In reply to @mwatts91757 "Well I know one person that had a hip done by this particular surgeon . My..." + (show)

@mwatts91757 I think that @babette may be helpful in recommending a revision surgeon. I believe that the doctor she went to who recommended him is the same excellent surgeon who did my second TKR and I have been very happy with that. If he’s recommending someone I would trust his opinion. Are you also in the Boston area? I am in southern NH and go to Boston for most of my healthcare, most often MGH, but Brigham and Womens does have a better reputation for orthopedics than they do. I also chose B&W because the doctor I went to is a developer of the Conformis knee and that was the knee I wanted.

It does seem as if some people are helped by the CPM machine, but I do not feel that it was helpful for me.
JK

jeffkirc | @jeffkirc | Jul 28, 2019

Conformis is the way to go along with obviously a great surgeon!

mel 726 | @mwatts91757 | Jul 29, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@mwatts91757 I think that @babette may be helpful in recommending a revision surgeon. I believe that..." + (show)

May I ask how the conformis knee differs from the styker prosthesis ?

mel 726 | @mwatts91757 | Jul 29, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@mwatts91757 I think that @babette may be helpful in recommending a revision surgeon. I believe that..." + (show)

What is the name of your surgeon at B+W hospital that uses the conformis?

jeffkirc | @jeffkirc | Jul 29, 2019

In reply to @mwatts91757 "May I ask how the conformis knee differs from the styker prosthesis ?" + (show)

Custom-made joint based on your anatomy rather than off the shelf joint replacement

mel 726 | @mwatts91757 | Jul 29, 2019

In reply to @jeffkirc "Custom-made joint based on your anatomy rather than off the shelf joint replacement" + (show)

Ok thank you. And only Brigham’s &women’s does this.
I’m sorry there were so many responses I’m getting things confused . I can’t remember if it was you who told me Brigham+women’s or somebody else

JK | @contentandwell | Jul 30, 2019

In reply to @jeffkirc "Custom-made joint based on your anatomy rather than off the shelf joint replacement" + (show)

@mwatts91757 As @jeffkirc responded, the Conformis is custom made for you.

The surgeon I went to is Dr. Wolfgang Fitz. I really liked him. I experienced more pain than typical for about six weeks so he was seeing me every two weeks. The pain suddenly lifted so then we just scheduled an appointment for a year after the surgery. I will be two years out in October, and very happy with my knee. I fell 9 days ago and fractured part of my femur in that leg. I am now hurting all the way down so I hope that’s referred pain, not damage to my knee.
JK

mel 726 | @mwatts91757 | Jul 30, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@mwatts91757 As @jeffkirc responded, the Conformis is custom made for you. The surgeon I went to..." + (show)

You know this is the second referral I got to Dr. Wolfgang Fitz!!
The first one was very much off-the-cuff I met her at physical therapy we had a brief conversation . She claims that they scanned her knee and fit her for her prosthesis . But now that I’ve been talking to you it makes sense what she said .

You have a fractured femur ?
That’s terrible .
And IMagine very painful

JK | @contentandwell | Aug 1, 2019

In reply to @mwatts91757 "Ok thank you. And only Brigham’s &women’s does this. I’m sorry there were so many responses..." + (show)

@jeffkirc There are quite a few doctors who use the Conformis knee. If you google Conformis there will be a link to which doctors do it. Since I go to Boston for most of my medical care (I live about 55 miles north in NH), it was an easy choice to use Dr. Fitz since he is one of the developers of the knee. They do scan your knee. I know it is more costly than other knees but it was paid for in full. I really love Dr. Fitz too, he is very caring and diligent, just not “warm and fuzzy”.

Yep, I have a “minimally displaced fracture of the greater trochanter, L femur”, and yes, it really is very painful. I had been so excited and looking forward to my son’s wedding in CO in a few weeks but this has really put a damper on it. I am not looking forward to the flight at all. 🙁

I’m working on not feeling sorry for myself, there are so many worse problems I could have, but it’s interference with a very special week does have me down.
JK