Hundreds of thousands of hip and knee replacement surgeries are performed in our country each year, and they’re typically highly successful in eliminating pain, restoring mobility and improving the patient’s quality of life.
Joint replacement, in which your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon replaces the arthritic areas of a joint with a metal, plastic or ceramic implant, has provided countless patients with a new lease on life.
Over the past couple of years, New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer has seen an increase in the number of patients coming in for a second hip or knee replacement, which is referred to as a revision surgery. When the implant wears out or another problem develops, patients often require a second surgery in which the existing implant or components are removed and replaced.
The implants used in joint replacement normally last 10 to 15 years, although some newer models may last up to 20 years. Sometimes, however, a revision surgery is required sooner, and your New Orleans orthopedic surgeons says the main reasons are:
The hip or knee replacement may become painful after many years because the components have begun to wear and/or loosen.
A fall or severe blow can cause a fracture of the bone near the hip or knee replacement.
If the implant becomes dislocated on repeated occasions, revision surgery is often prescribed to stop this from happening.
If a deep infection arises in a hip or knee replacement, revision surgery is often needed to eliminate the infection and implant new non-infected parts.
Occasionally, the implant used in joint replacement surgery is identified to be a problem and patients who received the implant are advised to be examined by their New Orleans orthopedic surgeon to ensure that it does not need to be replaced.
A revision joint replacement is much more complicated than the initial replacement surgery and many orthopedic surgeons who perform primary joint replacements will refer their patients to an expert in revision surgery. If someone needs a revision surgery, it’s critical to locate a Des Moines orthopedic surgeon who is familiar with this procedure.
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