When the components implanted in a total knee replacement procedure wear down — and become detached from the bone to which they were once anchored — a revision knee replacement may become necessary.
The complexity of a revision knee replacement procedure depends largely on the severity of damage to the knee, as well as the degree to which implanted components have loosened.
In a typical revision knee replacement operation, originally implanted components, bone cement and loose tissue must be removed without damaging surrounding bone surfaces. When new components are implanted, a thicker, more deeply implanted stem component may have additional reinforcements.
The following interactive video offers an informative overview of key steps in revision knee replacement surgery.