KnotesFree Orthopaedic & FRCS notes, viva stations and higher order SBAs

Revision TKA

Must KnowKneethinKbox SBA

Talk

  • Lateral view of knee showing Total knee replacement. What concerns me is the loosening of the components with widespread radiolucency and bone loss around the tibial component. This is highly suggestive of infection
  • I will take a history to establish the cause and functional status of the patient. I will examine and investigate her to know the
    • State of soft tissue and vascular status: Wound compli
    • State of ligaments: Constrained prosthesis
    • Bone loss: BG, Augmentation and stemmed implant

Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute (AORI) classification of Bone Loss

  • Type 1: intact metaphysic with minor defects (no effect on stability)
  • Type 2: Damaged metaphysis( cement augments/BG: Morcellasied/structural)
  • Type 3: Deficient Metaphysis ( Modular augments +/-Custom made hinged prosthesis with BG)

Peri prosthetic

Talk

  • I can see an AP and lateral view of left knee of a 70 year old person with a TKR. What concerns me is the fracture of the supracondylar femur. I would like to know the mechanism and the time since the injury.

  • I will ensure that the injury is not limb threatening, it is isolated closed and the limb is neurovascularly intact.

  • I would like to see the entire length X-ray of femur and tibia to rule out any other fracture or implant in situ and give adequate analgesia and immobilise in a back slab

  • I will take further detailed history regarding indication for initial surgery, course after the procedure, history of any leaking wound and wound healing problem, ambulatory and cognitive status of the patient. I will try to know which implant was used.

  • I will discuss the patient’s problem with a senior knee specialist

  • I will also assess whether

    • the implant is radiologically loose or stable,
    • is the fracture very low metaphysial, or
    • is there any comminution medially and
    • try to review previous films.
  • I will rule out infection

  • Plan for revision vs fixation (use midline incision)

KFORT trial

  • knee fix or replace trial in elderly

Tibia

  • stable: fix
  • unstable: stemmed tibial component
  • collaterals compromised: hinged

Extensor mechanism

  • Unresurfaced: primary fixation with hamstring augmentation
  • Resurfaced: patellectomy and suturing the remnants and hamstring augmentation

Written/reviewed by Kishore Puthezhath

Professor of Orthopaedics and Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon

FRCS (Tr & Orth) revision resource

Reviewed: September 2026