If your knee replacement buckles, gives way, or suddenly feels loose, every step can feel uncertain. An unstable knee replacement may be caused by ligament imbalance, implant loosening or wear, infection, or another issue around the joint. Figuring out the cause helps decide if you need rehabilitation, a different type of care, or revision surgery.
At Robotic Hip and Knee Replacement LA, we help people in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and nearby areas find answers for painful or unstable joint replacements.
Why Can a Knee Replacement Start Giving Way?
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons explains that damaged or improperly balanced ligaments can make a replaced knee unstable. Implant wear or loosening, infection, fracture, stiffness, and other mechanical problems can also reduce function.
If your knee replacement felt stable for years and now feels different, it’s time for an evaluation. The same goes if your knee never felt secure after surgery. Repeated buckling is a sign you should get checked out, but it doesn’t tell the whole story by itself.
When Should You Have a Knee Replacement Checked?
You should schedule an orthopedic evaluation if pain, swelling, stiffness, or instability keeps coming back, gets worse, or starts making it harder to walk or use your knee. Look out for:
- Repeated buckling, giving way, or loss of confidence while walking
- Persistent or worsening pain or swelling
- New loss of motion or increasing stiffness
- Increasing redness or swelling, drainage, or a persistent fever that may signal infection
If you notice signs of infection, reach out to your doctor right away.
How Does a Surgeon Find the Cause?
A failed knee replacement can’t be diagnosed from symptoms alone. MedlinePlus explains that revision knee replacement evaluation may include X-rays, CT, or MRI to look for loosening, bone loss, or other mechanical problems with the implant. Blood tests and joint aspiration may also be used when infection is a concern.
Dr. Farzin Kabaei will review your previous surgery, symptoms, medical history, and imaging before talking through your treatment options. He’s a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in Orthopaedic Trauma and Joint Reconstruction at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Does Instability Always Mean Another Knee Replacement?
Not always. Bracing or physical therapy can help with some causes of instability. If nonsurgical care doesn’t restore stability, or if tests show loosening, wear, infection, or another implant problem, your doctor may talk with you about revision surgery.
Revision knee replacement is more complex than your first joint replacement. Your surgeon may need to remove existing components, address bone loss or damaged soft tissue, and use specialized revision implants. You’ll want to consider Revision knee replacement in Los Angeles only after your doctor finds the source of the problem.
FAQ
Can a knee replacement become loose years later?
Implant wear and loosening can develop over time and may cause pain, swelling, instability, or reduced function. Your doctor can use an exam and imaging to see if loosening is the issue.
Can a knee feel unstable without the implant being loose?
Ligament problems and soft-tissue imbalance can cause a knee replacement giving way even if the implant itself isn’t loose.
Get a Revision Knee Replacement Evaluation in Los Angeles
If your replaced knee buckles, hurts, or doesn’t feel reliable anymore, you need to know why before making any decisions. Dr. Kabaei evaluates complex knee replacement problems in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, including painful and unstable prior replacements. Contact Robotic Hip and Knee Replacement LA to have your symptoms, imaging, and surgical history reviewed and to talk about whether revision care is right for you.
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