broken femur/knee replacement- issues with knee bending outward

Posted by birdieca @birdieca, Jul 21 5:32am

I recently had a fractured femur that was fixed with internal fixation (plates, pins) on my leg with a total knee replacement. I am 6 months out and still having trouble walking without assistance. My mobility sucks. It seems my knee is bending outward, with the fixed fracture not sitting the same on my knee replacement. My PT suggested I wear an unloader brace while I see an orthopedic surgeon for other solutions. It seems that my anatomy has changed by the accident and subsequent surgery and recovery of my femur. One solution might be to replace the plastic piece in my knee which better fits my new anatomy.
In any event the ortho says that my ligaments are stretched and I need to do more PT. I have been doing the PT, but now advancing and I hit a plateau with walking now for over a month. It hurts when I walk and I feel like I am just making it worse. Any advice?

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jul 21 8:39am

@birdieca Total Knee Replacement (TKR) revision surgery, especially after trauma & subsequent surgery, is complex. If there is a specialty orthopedic hospital (even one that serves children, like Shriners') near you, you might want to reach out to find surgeons who specialize in doing this work.
If you hope to avoid more surgery, an orthopedist who focuses more on function and less on surgery, like a sports medicine doctor, could be the answer.
If there is a large orthopedic practice near you, you might find one there.

Have you contemplated consulting a different doctor?

birdieca | @birdieca | Jul 21 4:59pm

Yes, I plan on contacting a few doctors to get opinions. Thanks for your concern.

steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | Jul 22 8:47am

What do you know of your surgeon and the surgery? Do you have the post surgery report from your surgeon?
I would want to know whether I am trying to fix a screwup by my surgeon or one of those things that can happen and he did an excellent job for what he was facing.
Can you go to a Mayo Clinic for a second opinion? Or the Hospital for Special Surgery?