What Causes Pain In Both Knees Despite Having Double Knee Replacement?

Posted on Tue, 2 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 2 Dec 2014 Answered on

Sat, 27 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : After 4+ years on a double knee replacement, I am having considerable pain in both knees that seems to be increasing. There is also a noticeable click when getting up from a chair. After several requests for some attention from the orthopedic surgeon, they did a bone scan and came back 5 weeks later with a note from the PA-C that there was "some increased uptake around the tibial components bilaterally. There was also a mild amount of uptake on the bone scan around my femurs as well."

What does this mean in layman's language? Unfortunately, the physician's office is not too good at getting back with their patients.

Thank you,

XXXXXXX XXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This uptake increased due to loosening of implant or infection

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I have studied your case.

As per your bone scan there is increase uptake near knee implant.
This uptake increased due to loosening of implant or infection around implant.

This can be differentiated by investigate like CRP, CBC, ESR.
PCR culture is very useful if infection is suspected to find culprit organism.

PET SCAN will also give more details.

If infection is confirmed debridement/ revision operation is required.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj