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I'm going to have revision surgery for a very stiff knee after a knee replacement. I can't bend or straighten my knee fully. It's changed the way I walk, sit, everything! What kind of result can I expect from this operation?

There aren't a lot of studies done to show the results of revision surgery for stiffness after total knee replacement (TKR). A recent report from surgeons at the Florida Orthopedic Institute and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota show mixed results after revision surgery.

The number of patients involved in the study was small (16). All had a iagnosis of stiffness after TKR. Physical therapy was tried first. Then manipulation (joint movement)under anesthesia or cutting scar tissue via arthroscopic surgery was done. The patients still had pain and stiffness.

Then revision surgery was done on all 16. Part or all of the implant was removed and replaced. Two-thirds of the group got pain relief and increased motion and function. One-third had to have another operation. They still didn't have good results.

The authors of the study say that results of TKR revision are mixed and not always satisfactory. If you have a good result you may expect to have an increased arc of motion. This means the range of motion from flexion into extension and back to flexion will increase. You may notice smoother motion and an ability to do more than before the operation.

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