« All FAQ About Zimmer Knee Replacement

What are the potential complications of revision surgery?

The potential complications of revision surgery are themselves painful and debilitating, and can result in permanent damage or even death:

  • Complications from anesthesia
  • Thrombophlebitis (blood clots in the legs)
  • Infection
  • Myositis ossificans (calcium deposits in soft tissue around the knee joint, causing inflammation of muscles where they meet the bone)
  • Loosening where a metal component or cement meets the bone
  • Incision complications
  • Bone fractures during surgery
  • Dislocation of the new prosthesis
  • A difference in leg length because of the artificial knee
  • More or faster loss of bone tissue
  • And even death

Related Questions:

What is the history of knee replacement devices?

In 1973, Zimmer Holdings, Inc. introduced the first metal and plastic knee replacement device. Since 1995, more than 1.45 million knee systems have been implanted in patients in the United States. In 2009 alone, domestic sales aone totaled more than a billion dollars.... read more?

What are the symptoms of knee replacement or implant problems?

Some of the symptoms associated with failure of these devices include:

  • Loosening of the attachment between the bone and artificial device, which occurs in both cemented and uncemented artificial joints
  • Painful stiffness or infection
  • Fractures near the artificial joint
  • Instability
  • Wear and tear on plastic parts
  • Breakage, especially metal breaks from constant weight-bearing stress