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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.

carlin | @carlin | Jul 16, 2020
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @carlin, Welcome to Connect. Sorry to hear that your TKR did not go so well..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @carlin, Welcome to Connect. Sorry to hear that your TKR did not go so well and you had to have a knee manipulation afterwards and arthroscopic surgery. It's understandable that you would be depressed but I would not feel bad about expressing how you feel. We know our body much better than any doctor and it's up to us to relay the information on how we feel to them. I also had a TKR a year ago April but am doing OK with range of motion and flex. I'm still working on strengthening the leg/knee though.

I really didn't know much about the manipulation process but found some information that explained it for me here:
Alternative technique for knee manipulation under anesthesia: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352344117300778

@babette @contentandwell and others may have some suggestions for you.

Did your surgeon or care team provide any additional therapy or treatment after the arthroscopic surgery?

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The surgeon wanted me to go back to PT but I don’t have insurance anymore. The school I worked for let me go because I wasn’t physically capable of doing my job in Special Ed... I was in PT for months and months so I do know what I need to do. I am working hard on recovering...

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ardis3 | @ardis3 | Jul 19, 2020
In reply to @babette "Hi Debbra! Not Mass General, but New England Baptist which actually has a better reputation for..." + (show)
@babette

Hi Debbra! Not Mass General, but New England Baptist which actually has a better reputation for orthopedics (is orthopedics only) than MGH does. Still, I'm not quite to the gratitude stage, just angry and hurt that I lost a year of my life to this and who knows how much more time to the coming surgery and recovery. I so appreciate your concern and caring. xo

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So sorry you are going through so much. I may also need to have my knee redone, Would you mind sharing the surgeons name at New England Baptist. Thank you . Cindy

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babette | @babette | Jul 19, 2020

Hi Cindy - My surgeon at the Baptist is Dr. Andrew Braziel. If I lived on the West Coast I'd fly to have him as my doctor!

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1 reply
ardis3 | @ardis3 | Jul 20, 2020
In reply to @babette "Hi Cindy - My surgeon at the Baptist is Dr. Andrew Braziel. If I lived on..." + (show)
@babette

Hi Cindy - My surgeon at the Baptist is Dr. Andrew Braziel. If I lived on the West Coast I'd fly to have him as my doctor!

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Thank you so much!

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JK | @contentandwell | Jul 20, 2020
In reply to @carlin "OMG! I had my TKR a year ago June 12, I had a manipulation under anesthesia..." + (show)
@carlin

OMG! I had my TKR a year ago June 12, I had a manipulation under anesthesia January 13, 2020 and now arthroscopic surgery June 29. My knee is so stiff and painful, I know this can’t be right... I am so depressed and hate telling everyone that no, it isn’t right. I know they think I’m crazy...don’t know what to do but I am very active and now I am disabled!!!!

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Hi @carlin Welcome to Connect.
Have you tried getting a second opinion? From what I have heard from people with long-lasting problems, that's the best thing to do. Many people, like @babette, did, have had the problem solved by a new surgeon. I have a friend who went for two years before the cause was discovered and fixed by a different surgeon.

I have had two TKRs, neither of which has been a problem other than not having quite as much flex as I would like. As with @babette I had a great surgeon in Boston, his name is Dr. Wolfgang Fitz and he is at Brigham and Women's. The surgeon of the friend I mentioned is the Clinical Chair of Orthopedics and Surgeon in Chief at New England Baptist. His name is David A. Mattingly. I am sure there are excellent orthopedic surgeons closer to you though, assuming you do not live in the Boston area. I would go to a major medical center, preferably at a teaching hospital, and find a great surgeon there.

I hope you can find some relief. It's miserable to live with pain daily.

@ardis3 There are a couple of additional names for orthopedic surgeons for you too.
JK

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1 reply
carlin | @carlin | Jul 20, 2020
In reply to @contentandwell "Hi @carlin Welcome to Connect. Have you tried getting a second opinion? From what I have..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Hi @carlin Welcome to Connect.
Have you tried getting a second opinion? From what I have heard from people with long-lasting problems, that's the best thing to do. Many people, like @babette, did, have had the problem solved by a new surgeon. I have a friend who went for two years before the cause was discovered and fixed by a different surgeon.

I have had two TKRs, neither of which has been a problem other than not having quite as much flex as I would like. As with @babette I had a great surgeon in Boston, his name is Dr. Wolfgang Fitz and he is at Brigham and Women's. The surgeon of the friend I mentioned is the Clinical Chair of Orthopedics and Surgeon in Chief at New England Baptist. His name is David A. Mattingly. I am sure there are excellent orthopedic surgeons closer to you though, assuming you do not live in the Boston area. I would go to a major medical center, preferably at a teaching hospital, and find a great surgeon there.

I hope you can find some relief. It's miserable to live with pain daily.

@ardis3 There are a couple of additional names for orthopedic surgeons for you too.
JK

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Hello JK,
Thank you for the information. I had a second opinion, however, the second opinion knows my surgeon...needless to say it was awkward! He said the hardware looks ok in the Xray and give it more time to recover. I guess I'll give it more time and then find another surgeon. I am in the Chicago area but relocating to Wisconsin. I really appreciate your input! Thank you, K. Carlin

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2 replies
donheads | @donheads | Jul 21, 2020
In reply to @ardis3 "So sorry you are going through so much. I may also need to have my knee..." + (show)
@ardis3

So sorry you are going through so much. I may also need to have my knee redone, Would you mind sharing the surgeons name at New England Baptist. Thank you . Cindy

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Hi so sorry to hear about your knee replacement failure. I can sympathise. I have had a total knee replacement in the uk. I now can't bend my knee at all. Awaiting appointment after second opinion. I would like to know if anyone else has had this issue
I do hope you can get this sorted. I wish you all the best for the future.

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2 replies
carlin | @carlin | Jul 21, 2020
In reply to @donheads "Hi so sorry to hear about your knee replacement failure. I can sympathise. I have had..." + (show)
@donheads

Hi so sorry to hear about your knee replacement failure. I can sympathise. I have had a total knee replacement in the uk. I now can't bend my knee at all. Awaiting appointment after second opinion. I would like to know if anyone else has had this issue
I do hope you can get this sorted. I wish you all the best for the future.

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I'm sorry to hear about your knee too...it helps to know that other people are experiencing similar things. I felt like I was the only one for a while. Good luck with your new surgeon! I'd be interested to know your outcome. K. Carlin

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jnoronha | @jnoronha | Jul 21, 2020
In reply to @donheads "Hi so sorry to hear about your knee replacement failure. I can sympathise. I have had..." + (show)
@donheads

Hi so sorry to hear about your knee replacement failure. I can sympathise. I have had a total knee replacement in the uk. I now can't bend my knee at all. Awaiting appointment after second opinion. I would like to know if anyone else has had this issue
I do hope you can get this sorted. I wish you all the best for the future.

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Sorry to hear about your knee. I had my left knee replaced 8 1/2 months ago and I am not able to bend my knee more than 85%. Of late, it has started hurting. I was thinking as days and months go by it would heal with no pain but just the opposite is happening. And the surgeon is telling me it is different with each person and it will take a year to 18 months to heal. I am hoping eventually it will heal.

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1 reply
cschultz8 | @cschultz8 | Jul 21, 2020
In reply to @carlin "Hello JK, Thank you for the information. I had a second opinion, however, the second opinion..." + (show)
@carlin

Hello JK,
Thank you for the information. I had a second opinion, however, the second opinion knows my surgeon...needless to say it was awkward! He said the hardware looks ok in the Xray and give it more time to recover. I guess I'll give it more time and then find another surgeon. I am in the Chicago area but relocating to Wisconsin. I really appreciate your input! Thank you, K. Carlin

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If you are still in the Chicago area, I had TKR 10 weeks ago and am doing amazing. My surgeon is with Hinsdale Orthopedics, Dr. T. Andrew Ehmke. He specializes in robotic surgery and revision surgery. When the time comes, I want him to do my other knee. Maybe he can help you. I have recommended him to several friends. Charmayne Schultz

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