Surgical Management of Symptomatic Instability Following Failed Primary Total Knee Replacement

In 2006, the most common reason for revision total knee replacement within five years after the index procedure is symptomatic instability1,2. What was once considered to be pain of unknown origin is now frequently recognized as pain due to instability of the knee replacement3. Successful treatment of pain at the site of an unstable replacement begins with the identification of patients who are truly symptomatic because of instability, followed by conservative management and, when necessary, surgical intervention.