In the years following your first knee replacement surgery, the metal portion of your implant slowly wears down this plastic portion.

Depending on the amount of wear to this plastic piece, your surgeon may be able to replace only the plastic piece alone. In other cases, though, you may have worn through it and damaged the metal components as well. In this case, the entire implant will be replaced.

Why you might need knee revision surgery

Osteolysis

The wearing down of the plastic component has an unfortunate side effect. The tiny plastic particles that wear off are attacked by your body’s immune system, and this immune response also attacks the healthy bone around your implant. This leads to a condition called osteolysis, in which the bone in the area around the joint implant softens as it is absorbed by the body, thus making your implant unstable and in need of revision. Your consultant orthopaedic surgeon usually will be able to detect osteolysis on your standard X-rays.

Fracture

If the bone next to your primary implant is fractured in an accident, revision surgery may be required in order to provide a safe, stable joint. In this case, the original implant may need to be removed, the fracture addressed and a revision joint implanted.

Infection

In a low percentage of cases, your knee may become infected after surgery. Although it may be successfully treated with antibiotics, there are severe cases where a follow-up revision surgery may be required. In this surgery, the primary implants will be removed, and temporary, antibiotic-laced “spacers” are implanted. These spacers allow for joint function and are intended to give your body time to heal before the new revision prostheses are surgically implanted. Most likely, you will be put on a six-week course of antibiotics in order to eliminate the infection. At a follow-up evaluation, your surgeon will determine if your body is ready for the revision procedure.