Complex or revision knee replacement

Some people may need a more complex type of knee replacement. The usual reasons for this are:

• major bone loss due to arthritis or fracture
• major deformity of the knee
• weakness of the main knee ligaments.

These knee replacements usually feature a longer stem, which allows the component to be more securely fixed into the bone cavity. The components interlock in the centre of the knee to form a hinge that stops the joint sliding apart and dislocating. Extra pieces of metal and/or plastic may be used to compensate for any removed or badly damaged bone.

This type of operation could be advised if you have very severe arthritis or if you’re having revision surgery.