Abstract
Many surgeons consider revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) a difficult procedure, calling for flexibility and improvisation.
However, revision TKA can be broken into a number of consecutive steps that need to be performed. Setting up a reproducible and stepwise approach is mandatory for the surgeon who performs this procedure more or less regularly.
At our institution, we have followed a five-step protocol in performing 166 revision TKA procedures. Its relatively strict guidelines leave little room for intraoperative improvisation. Our protocol covers exposition, implant extraction, implant selection, bone preparation and dealing with bony defects.
There has been acceptable ‘on the table’ reconstruction in all cases.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
