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Lateral Approach Total Knee Replacement

Posted by ouch89 @ouch89, Nov 6, 2024

I accompanied my wife for an Orthopedist consulatation at AOS (Advanced Ortho & Spine) for her bone on bone discomfort. They promote a New Era in Knee Replacement with Side Incision, claiming less pain and faster recovery with no muscle cutting. We reviewed patients on video walking naturally with no limping post two weeks TKR along with their testimony. I have had three traditional (vertical incision over the front of the knee) TKR surgeries, one being a revision, with the usual painful long term recovery.
Has anyone had this side incision procedure and will you share your pro/con experience. Thank you

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steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | 2 days ago
In reply to @portstlucie "I live in South Florida,had TKA of my left knee March 2024.I was convinced of the..." + (show)
Profile picture for portstlucie @portstlucie

I live in South Florida,had TKA of my left knee March 2024.I was convinced of the surgeons expertise by another doctor,so I scheduled with this surgeon(he had all 5 star reviews) .The surgeon explained all the beneficts of the lateral approach .he said I will be able to return to my zumba and salsa classes in no time.Unfortunately for me,the surgery was not successful,for an entire year I experienced severe pain and swelling of my left knee.I returned to the surgeon for follow up visits 4 times and each time fluid was aspirated from my knee.Following each visit,by the time I returned home my knee was swollen again(filled back up with fluid).I was told by the surgeon to give it more time.Then he told me it might be rheumatoid arthritis, had me schedule with a rheumatologist.I kept the rheumatology appointment,had a series of labs done, all came back negative for RA and other autoimmune diseases.My knee continued to be swollen and painful after one year.I decided to see another orthopedic doctor for a second opinion,this doctor sent me for bone scans and MRI,results showed loosening of the knee component, he said I needed revision surgery.I had left knee revision surgery on August 21st (two and a half months ago),I am still recovering and going to physical therapy.My knee is still swollen but the pain has lessened post revision.If I had to do knee surgery all over again I will stick to the old tried and true medial approach since the lateral approach In my experience, was unsuccessful.

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@portstlucie

I would attribute your problems to your surgeon, not the "lateral approach". My surgeon used a mini midvastus method, did not use a tourniquet, installed a bicruciate retaining implant, used a CORI robot for fine precision, fixed my severe valgus misalignment with a Functional alignment and did a plastic surgery close.

I had zero pain after the total knee replacement. My surgeon's recovery protocol is to to be a couch potato for the first week and then begin small activities around the house in the second week and commence PT in the third week. The concept is to reduce the swelling before starting PT. That week my PT measured my ROM at 122.

Some of my success may be luck but I attribute most if it to the magician who did the procedure. By the way, my surgeon does about 20% of his surgical work doing revisions of other surgeons' work.

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linda55 | @linda55 | 1 day ago
In reply to @steveinarizona "@portstlucie I would attribute your problems to your surgeon, not the "lateral approach". My surgeon used..." + (show)
Profile picture for steveinarizona @steveinarizona

@portstlucie

I would attribute your problems to your surgeon, not the "lateral approach". My surgeon used a mini midvastus method, did not use a tourniquet, installed a bicruciate retaining implant, used a CORI robot for fine precision, fixed my severe valgus misalignment with a Functional alignment and did a plastic surgery close.

I had zero pain after the total knee replacement. My surgeon's recovery protocol is to to be a couch potato for the first week and then begin small activities around the house in the second week and commence PT in the third week. The concept is to reduce the swelling before starting PT. That week my PT measured my ROM at 122.

Some of my success may be luck but I attribute most if it to the magician who did the procedure. By the way, my surgeon does about 20% of his surgical work doing revisions of other surgeons' work.

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@steveinarizona I am 3 years out from a TKR, front incision, Zimmer Inplant and still in horrible pain! Two second opinion orthos said everything looks fine, one said it seems fine but with so much pain it is clearly not fine for me and suggested a revision. I would want to consult with a revision specialist; who is your doctor?

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steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | 1 day ago

Dr. Jimmy Chow. But be aware that he does not take insurance nor medicare. For my TKR the fee was $5,500 and the rest was covered by insurance.

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xteach | @xteach | 1 day ago
In reply to @steveinarizona "@portstlucie I would attribute your problems to your surgeon, not the "lateral approach". My surgeon used..." + (show)
Profile picture for steveinarizona @steveinarizona

@portstlucie

I would attribute your problems to your surgeon, not the "lateral approach". My surgeon used a mini midvastus method, did not use a tourniquet, installed a bicruciate retaining implant, used a CORI robot for fine precision, fixed my severe valgus misalignment with a Functional alignment and did a plastic surgery close.

I had zero pain after the total knee replacement. My surgeon's recovery protocol is to to be a couch potato for the first week and then begin small activities around the house in the second week and commence PT in the third week. The concept is to reduce the swelling before starting PT. That week my PT measured my ROM at 122.

Some of my success may be luck but I attribute most if it to the magician who did the procedure. By the way, my surgeon does about 20% of his surgical work doing revisions of other surgeons' work.

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@steveinarizona

I have saved your reply for the next TKR I’ll have. While my surgery went well and I recovered about the way I thought I would, and I returned to most of my activities, I’m intrigued with your story and procedure. I am 5 years out of my TKR and I think I’ll need manipulation again, worried I won’t have the strength to get the other knee done with this scar tissue. I’ll be bringing your note with me to my surgeon. BTW-your doc’s recovery protocol sounds like common sense perfection.

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dbduffer | @dbduffer | 1 day ago

Thanks to all for your posts and experiences.

I am 2 years post TKR with a lot of inflammation, swelling and severe pain. Surgery was to correct OA with calcified meniscus, etc. and 'typical' vertical incision , mechanical alignment with Zimmer Persona cruciate implant with tourniquet. (See link re: use of tourniquets especially the conclusion for no comorbidity issues)

The diagnosis for my current symptoms is 'instabilty' however not one surgeon out of 5 consulted can find anything wrong with the implant or soft tissue. Most pain is along lateral side. I believe there is nerve damage which I am working on.
I had a revision with new semiconstrained insert installed which did not help and recent RF nerve ablation which was also unsuccessful.
My surgeon suggests a full revision but cannot tell me what is wrong with current implant. He also tells me that it may not fix the knee and it could be worse! Yikes! Not going down that road.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10386593/

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