Modern knee replacement generally gives good service for many years. Eventually a knee replacement can become increasingly uncomfortable often due to loosening of the components. This can occur as a result of wear particles from the polyethylene bearing causing chronic inflammation within the joint.

Other causes of failure can include injury, infection or instability in the joint.

If you start to develop increasing pain in your knee replacement the appropriate choice can be to live with minor symptoms using painkillers and exercise rather than go forward with revision surgery. Revision surgery involves removal of the original knee replacement followed by insertion of a new knee replacement. The decision to undergo revision surgery needs to be carefully considered in every individual case. Sometimes the cause for increasing symptoms can be extremely difficult to identify.

If your symptoms are giving increasing limitation of day to day life then it may be appropriate to consider revision surgery. Planning revision knee surgery requires a careful discussion between you and your surgeon and may require special scans in addition to up-to-date xrays. Simon prides himself on his ability to listen to your symptoms and then discuss the treatment options in-depth to ensure that the correct treatment decision is made for you.

Simon has over 20 years’ experience of carrying out both primary and revision knee surgery and is often referred patients with failing knee replacement to give a second opinion.