Pre-operative planning for revision total knee replacement: Ensuring a successful result

Specialized surgical techniques and knee replacement technology have been developed specifically to address the complexities of revision total knee replacement. Prior to surgery, a thorough understanding of the mechanism of failure and evaluation for possible periprosthetic sepsis is essential in order to obtain a satisfactory result. Removal of well-fixed implants, management of bone loss, soft tissue deficiency and instability, and a strategy for obtaining stable fixation of a new implant all need to be considered during the pre-operative planning phase of surgery. A well-thought-out pre-operative plan will ensure that all the necessary equipment and implants are available at the time of surgery and that all factors contributing to failure of the knee replacement are addressed.