How do I find out what is wrong with my 3 year old knee replacement?

Posted by skybig @skybig, Jul 2 9:15am

I had my knee replaced in September of 2021 and I'm not at all happy with the results. Aside from the fact that it is very painful at times (mostly later in the day), its always very swollen and I've dislocated it three times (the peg came out of the slot). I'm told that I don't have an infection and nothing is loose. Due to my metal allergy I have a custom knee replacement made by Smith and Nephew. It is basically thier Legion knee replacement that is made 100% out of Zirconium Oxide and a plastic pad. The first time I dislocated it the surgeon did an open reduction (surgery) and he replaced replaced the pad with a slightly thicker one. The other two times they put it back without cutting me open. I feel like these dislocations are related to my flexibility. My PT measured my flexibility at just over 135 degrees. According to what I've read my knee replacement is capable of flexing 155 degrees, so on paper that shouldn't be the issue. My surgeon wants me to consider undergoing revision surgery using a hinged knee replacement. I've read that hinged knee replacements are more prone to failure. Before I agree to another surgery I'd like to fully understand why my existing knee replacement is still painful and dislocates so easily. Unfortunately, my existing surgeon doesn't seem to know or doesn't want to tell me what problem is. In short I need a second opinion and don't where to turn.

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Jul 3 4:15am

How about a 2nd opinion from either Mayo or John's Hopkins?

fleamama | @fleamama | Jul 3 5:44pm

Oh my goodness! Bless your heart, this is Not what a successful implant surgery looks like! I would definitely be seeking a second opinion and do your own research of what you should expect. I have had both knees replaced by the same surgeon, who was a highly talented and compassionate man. I can't believe you have had to live with this so long! Perhaps someone on this thread will have a recommendation for someone you can see. I would recommend my surgeon but he has retired. Good Luck on this journey and don't give up! I will keep you in my prayers.

js2022 | @js2022 | Jul 6 6:40pm

Find another knee surgeon with excellent reviews for another opinion. Good luck.

gardeningjunkie | @gardeningjunkie | Jul 7 9:45am

Several possibilities you might consider.
Before my knee implant surgery I paid out of pocket $500 for blood testing. Even with my history of being an allergic person Medicare would not cover this expense. I learned I had 5 metal allergies, but had no allergy to bone cement.
My surgeon scheduled me for surgery with a ceramic implant approximately 4 years ago. Sounds like around the same period you had your surgery. I then went home and did my homework. I probably still have this implant name if interested, I know it wasn't called a Legion and believe it started with an A. This implant had an ongoing class action lawsuit against them because the bone cement was failing to adhere to the the ceramic coated implant. The suit was based upon the fact that they were aware of this but ignoring it and still distributing these implants. I told my doctor who seemed unaware of that and I immediately cancelled my surgery loosing faith in him for being unaware of this class action lawsuit. Plus I decided to live with my failing knees rather than have an implant failing compounding my knee issues.

skybig | @skybig | 23 hours ago

I actually had two rounds of metals allergy testing, with varied results. The first showed I was very allergic to nickel and the mildly to a few other metals. The second test only picked up the nickel allergy. Because of the results of the original test the surgeon used a custom knee replacement made out 100% zirconium oxide, which I waited a year for the FDA to approve.

After the third dislocation my doctor is now recommending doing a revision surgery using a hinged knee replacement which I've read don't have such a good reputation. They have a very high failure rate and are much more complex. The doctors still have not told me why my knee replacement dislocates so easily. It literally floats apart if my knee is in the right position. They claim that they don't know why this happens, which I feel is total BS. I've said to my doctor "how to do you say that a hinged knee replacement is my best solution when you don't know what's causing it to dislocate so easily?" Can you imagine going to your mechanic with car trouble and hear him say "I'm sorry I don't know what's causing the problem but you need a new engine!"

Before I agree to the hinged knee replacement I have to know that everything possible was done to save my original knee replacement. To that end I even reached out to Smith & Nephew (the manufacturer of my knee) to get their spin on the situation. I've called and sent multiple emails to them and not gotten a single reply.

Lastly, I firmly believe that my doctors know exactly why my knee dislocates so easily. It has to be one of two things, either my knee replacement is defective or it was installed incorrectly or possibly both. Whatever the reason they won't tell me and their silence is deafening!