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Revision surgery because of scar tissue in knee
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jan 12, 2023 | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
Bi-lateral knee replacement was done in 2013. Scar tissue was always a problem on right knee. Months of P/T followed.
In 2015 had surgery to remove scar tissue. It returned with a vengeance. Two surgeons said my only recourse was revision surgery.
Cannot straighten or bend the knee, limping badly. Spoke with a doctor that recommended a hinged KR which is done from the back of the knee.
Ligaments are cut because the replace the supports the knee. Revision surgery is very scary.
Anyone dealing with this situation?
Replies to "Bi-lateral knee replacement was done in 2013. Scar tissue was always a problem on right knee...."
Yes. My primary surgeon wants to do revision. Remove implant then cut out scar tissue a second time, recess/remove some bone on tibia and femur to give more room to straighten knee. And put new implant in. Yesterday I met with another surgeon for 2nd opinion. He said I need revision. But wait a year from my last surgery on Aug 8, 2022 to allow knee and current scar tissue to settle down. So about 7 months from now. Remove implant, remove scar tissue, do one dosage of radiation to help slow down scar tissue growing back again. put in hinged implant. Give more stability, improve bending and straighten. Currently Bend at about 65-70 degrees and straighten to 5-7 degrees only. He says I can improve both and have better functionality. But most likely will not get me to where I was prior to initial TKR. He say maybe 35-40% improvement. Get me to 90-105 degree bending and couple degrees straightening. Thinking about getting yet another opinion to see if same plan would be proposed.
Best wishes to you,
Wayne
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Hello @barbwire, I would like to invite some other members to this discussion that have some experience with revision surgery. Although their situations may not be exactly like yours, they may be able to offer some insight on why they had to have a revision and what the experience was like for them. @szqyoung, @amberpep, @maryann1753, @jmacvol, @franciesusan, have all discussed having a revision done for various reasons.
@barbwire, I can understand the fear of a revision surgery. I had my right knee replaced in 2006 when I was 19 due to severe end-stage arthritis that started when I was a child. I know for certain that I will likely have to have 1 or 2 revisions in my lifetime because I was so young when I had the surgery. I do not look forward to those days. I also struggled mightily with scar tissue. I had two manipulations after my knee replacement, tried full leg casts with hand cranks to force it to bend, and nothing worked. I ended up popping it loose on my own, but my ROM is still less than I would have liked at 0-105 or so.
@barbwire, if you don't mind me asking, what is the outlook for mobility and being active with a hinged knee replacement? I haven't heard of one of those.