Revision total knee arthroplasty: planning, management, controversies, and surgical approaches

Revision total knee arthroplasty can be a technically challenging procedure fraught with potential complications. In many cases, obtaining adequate exposure is difficult, and failure to do so can directly cause technical errors and complications. Patient-specific systemic comorbidities and anatomic details can further complicate the procedure. Careful preoperative evaluation can help to facilitate optimal results. Furthermore, specific surgical techniques help to improve the surgical exposure and can minimize complications such as wound healing problems, component malposition, and extensor mechanism disruption. All surgeons undertaking these procedures require a thorough understanding of these principles.