[Repeated total knee arthroplasty]

The causes of failure of total knee arthroplasty are now better known and usually avoidable, being due to the surgical technique. Choosing a prosthesis with minimal constraint is of paramount importance. Exact technique for perfect placement of the implant, realignment of the limb and correction of asymmetrical bone lesions are stringent prerequisites. As for deep sepsis, which is still the most severe of post-arthroplasty complications, it can now be treated with success in nine out of ten knees, whilst preserving a functional knee prosthesis. The knee prosthesis placement technique is very demanding in most cases, but the excellent results obtained seem to be more durable than those of total hip replacement.