Following successful Total Knee Replacement, 90% of patients are leading a symptom-free life at 20 years. However, complications do occur. The most common is infection, which, if detected early, can be controlled with appropriate antibiotics. In the long term, aseptic loosening can occur, leading to bone loss and the recurrence of pain. Occasionally, these patients need Revision of the Knee Implant, which means another surgery.

Revision knee replacement is technically demanding and needs careful planning. Also, various add-ons in implant accessories must be made available in the operating theatre before commencing surgery. We routinely perform Revision surgery at our hospital for those patients who need it. Another common complication we see is a fracture of the bone near the site of the implant on the rare occasion when a patient falls on landing/twisting on the operated leg. This needs special plating with the Locking compression technique.

The longevity of Revision implants is generally lesser than that of conventional knee replacements and typically lasts for about 10-15 years only. The cost of Revision surgery is variable depending on the customization of the implant required, antibiotic usage and other co-morbid conditions. Implant costs can vary from about 100,000/- to Rs. 200,000/-. The total cost of revision surgery can vary from 300,000/- to 500,000/-