Complex Knee replacement

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What is Complex Total Knee Replacement?

Total knee replacement, also called total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical treatment for painful arthritis of the knee in which the worn-out or damaged surfaces of the knee joint are removed and replaced with an artificial prosthesis.

Complex total knee replacement is employed in patients whose arthritis is especially severe, or who have already undergone a previous knee replacement in the same leg. The surgery takes about 2 to 3 hours to perform.

Some conditions involving the knee joint that warrant a complex total knee replacement include the following:

Weak knee ligaments
Major knee deformity
Considerable bone loss due to fracture or arthritis
Knee fracture that has healed in a deformed or malunited position
Failed prior knee replacements
Significant knee stiffness due to joint degeneration
Gross knee instability due to tearing or stretching of ligaments
Severe knee injury or knee fracture
Prosthetic joint infection

In these circumstances, a complex total knee replacement affords a variety of features and benefits, such as utilizing more complex prosthetic parts with longer stems to ensure the component is securely fitted in the cavity. Some components may interlock like a hinge at the front of the knee to provide more stability. In addition, larger plastic liners, and bone grafting are often required to ensure correct alignment and length of the lower leg, replace absent bone stock, and to sufficiently restore the collateral ligaments and other soft tissue structures.