Hip and knee surgery



WHEN DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR PROSTHESIS ?

Over time, the intermediate part of the prosthesis wears out (in the hip prosthesis as well as in the knee prosthesis) and the attachment to the bone can deteriorate. The prosthesis is "detached" from the bone, we talk about loosening.
Eventually mobility of the implant could cause pain that will gradually increase over time, making everyday life more and more difficult. These pains may be accompanied by lameness, deformity of the lower limb, unequal length or even stiffness, gradually decreasing the functional possibilities of your prosthesis.
These micro-movements of the implants will slowly wear done the bone, causing it to become more and more thin. Fractures can occur during anodyne movements.
This is why we should not wait when the first signs of pain appear.
This is also the reason why you should consult your surgeon every two years when you have a hip or a knee prosthesis. Have a control x-ray to check that everything is alright and to see the potential signs of loosening before the situation gets worse.
Indeed, the more the situation deteriorates, the more complex the operation will be to correct the problem. Bone grafts may become necessary, plus subsequent operations.