Medical Questions & Answers

Question: After having a knee replacement on one of my knees, I can’t bend my knee completely, and this stops me riding a bike. Is there anything I can do?
It’s delightful to hear that someone who has had a knee replacement wants to ride a bike, as most people who have this operation are well over 60.
Unfortunately, a replacement knee is never as good as the young original, but most people can eventually bend their knee to a right angle. If this is not possible within six months of the operation, it is unlikely that any significantly greater movement will be achieved. Regular physiotherapy in the first few months after the operation is essential to gain the maximum mobility in the new knee.
Considering the fact that the old knee would have been very painful and had limited strength and movement before the operation, most patients find a replacement knee a marked improvement. I trust that you have adjusted the bicycle seat to give the knees the least possible necessary flexion, but other than this I regret that I cannot offer any further advice for your problem.

Question: I am 76 years old and two years ago I had a knee replacement operation. It was not a success, and after two years of pain and not being able to walk any distance, my surgeon wants to open it up again and cement it. I am very apprehensive about this operation, and would like your opinion on how necessary it is.
Unfortunately, not all operations turn out the way that the surgeon (or patient) would wish. Knee replacement operations have a very high success rate, and often give dramatic relief from chronic, severe arthritis. People who have been barely able to walk find themselves to walk freely for long distances within a few months of the operation.
You have been one of the unfortunate failures. This is probably a matter of bad luck, not incompetence on the part of the surgeon, nurses or hospital. After two years, your knee is not going to improve, and it is reasonable to let the surgeon try to correct the problem that has developed. Loosening of the joint, so that the artificial joint is not firmly cemented to the bone, is one of the commonest complications, and can usually be corrected without too much trouble.
Without further surgery you will continue to suffer constant knee pain. With surgery, you have a chance of significantly improving the knee discomfort, and possibly recovering completely. At worst, the operation cannot make your knee more painful than it is now.

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