You can have high hopes, yet still, the outcome may not be what you wanted. It might be that the birthday cake you worked so hard on fell, the paint color you chose for the living room isn’t quite right, or that haircut doesn’t look like the picture you showed your stylist.
The situation is the same in the world of joint replacement, and failures aren’t unknown, but of course, the stakes are much higher.
One of the most common replacement procedures is knee arthroscopy, with some 700,000 surgeries performed yearly.
However, even though over 90% of replacement knees are working well after 15 years (and 82% after 25 years), a little over 6% of knee replacement recipients experience problems post-surgery and aren’t ultimately satisfied with their results.
Fortunately, there’s an option when knee arthroscopy goes south, and it’s known as revision surgery. This is where the surgeon corrects and repairs the problem that led to the initial failure. Though it’s not a simple procedure, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vasilios Mathews is highly experienced with this and an array of other sophisticated orthopedic procedures.
Dr. Mathews is committed to finding the right solution for relieving your pain and discomfort, and allowing you to move freely and comfortably again.
We know that knee replacement failure is real, but what factors contribute to it?
Any of a number of things can lead to a failed knee replacement, including:
Another reason total knee replacements are unsuccessful is that, like many products, recalls happen. In other words, it’s not just food and unsafe car parts that get recalled — it also occurs with knee prosthetics.
The symptoms that people who endure failed knee replacements must cope with include persistent pain and stiffness, swelling, and issues with overall instability.
You may be thinking, I already went through this once and must do it again. It’s frustrating, but rest assured that Dr. Mathews has successfully corrected thousands of failed knee replacements, so you’re in excellent hands.
Not only does he have experience with every brand of prosthetic knee component, but he also takes a deep dive into the root cause of every patient’s replacement failure, contributing significantly to the solution and customized treatment plan Dr. Mathews creates. This also always includes trying conservative treatments first — like physical therapy and medications — before opting to go the revision surgery route.
Dr. Mathews also believes in consistent and transparent communication with you about your procedure. He answers all your questions and concerns so you feel secure in making the decision to proceed with revision surgery.
During the procedure, Dr. Mathews carefully swaps out the elements of your original prosthesis that are causing chronic pain and movement problems for new, excellently-made ones.
We noted earlier that revision surgery is more complex than initial knee replacement surgery, so you may need to prepare for a short hospital stay.
After your surgery, Dr. Mathews helps you recover, oversees your rehabilitation phase, and manages your post-surgery pain. He’s dedicated to being present in every way with you before, during, and well after your revision surgery.
If you’re dealing with persistent pain and limited mobility after total knee replacement, you can turn to us.
To schedule an appointment, contact our conveniently located Houston office at 713-794-3548 or use our convenient online booking tool.
