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Has anyone had surgery to replace the implant cushion?

Posted by leeanns @leeanns, Sep 1 10:26am

After 3.5 yrs of considerable discomfort with both knees (TKR for both done at the same time) an orthopedic specialist is recommending that I do the surgery to replace the implant cushion with a thicker one to correctly tension ligaments and tendons. Both knees are unstable which causes pain and soft tissue tightness and swelling as knees try to compensate for instability. I will only do one knee at a time this time, learned my lesson!
So I am looking for feedback from anyone who has done this surgery. Thanks!

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apriljoy | @apriljoy | Sep 2 7:52am

I’m very interested in hearing about this. My first TKR in 2017 has been painful and nothing shows up on X-rays. There are days I can hardly walk and have instability. I have to wear a knee brace most days. My 2nd one in 2018 has been ok.
Please let me know how it goes if you do this procedure.
Thank you.

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fnpbaker123 | @fnpbaker123 | Sep 3 9:34am

I had the “cushion” replaced on a very unstable tkr and had success with improved stability and less pain ! Recovery is much easier than a total knee revision because they do not need to removed existing implants

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george12345 | @george12345 | Sep 3 9:41am
In reply to @fnpbaker123 "I had the “cushion” replaced on a very unstable tkr and had success with improved stability..." + (show)
Profile picture for fnpbaker123 @fnpbaker123

I had the “cushion” replaced on a very unstable tkr and had success with improved stability and less pain ! Recovery is much easier than a total knee revision because they do not need to removed existing implants

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@fnpbaker123
My doc says they don't do cushions, spacers along. Only the entire devise. Im in NYC and involved with a very good hospital but I have been told total Revision is the only answer to my pain and swelling??/

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fnpbaker123 | @fnpbaker123 | Sep 3 10:14am

It is technically called the replacement of polyethylene liner- comes in different thicknesses but is used when replacement of implant isn’t necessary and instability might be solved from a less invasive procedure or replacement of implant would cause too much bone loss

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dbduffer | @dbduffer | Sep 3 10:35am

Hi,
My TKR was 12/23. My knee was never right with lots of swelling and pain. After multiple opinions the diagnosis was laxity; there was too much play in the implant causing it to irritate the surrounding tissue and nerves.
I did my own research and the data stated that replacing the polyethylene liner (cushion?) with a thicker one had about a 50 - 50 chance to fix the problem. I had found a new surgeon specializing in revisions. He confirmed that the surgery was a crap shoot and recommended a more complete revision. I did not want to do this.
7/25 - I had the insert replaced. The good news is that the recovery is much easier than the TKR. No bone cutting. The bad news is that it did not help.
4/26 - I had a partial revision surgery. The femoral component was removed, realigned and replaced with one slightly larger and the insert was increased due to bone cutting.
I can now go down stairs and walk much better without the severe pain. It is not perfect but a big improvement.
Good luck.

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