Conditions
Loosening of the Knee Prosthesis
Loosening of the Knee Prosthesis
In order for a total knee replacement to function properly, the implant or prosthesis must remain firmly attached to the bone. Over time, however, an implant may loosen from the underlying bone, causing the knee to become painful. The cause of loosening is not always clear, but high-impact activities, excessive body weight, and wear of the plastic spacer between the components of the implant are all factors that may contribute. Also, patients who are younger when they undergo the initial knee replacement may outlive the life expectancy of their artificial knee. For these patients, there is a higher long-term risk that knee revision surgery will be needed due to loosening or wear.
