Revision total knee arthroplasty.

Revision total knee arthroplasty can be very successful if careful preoperative planning has been carried out and the surgeon is equipped to handle potential problems encountered with restoration of static alignment, stability, and deficient bone stock. Special femoral and tibial component extractors are indispensable tools. A high-speed burr is helpful. Posterior cruciate ligament-preserving prostheses often can be used, but prostheses with extra degrees of constraint must be available. Long-stemmed components for both the femoral and tibial sides should be available. Access to a bone bank to obtain allogeneic bone for grafting is essential. The surgeon must be familiar with techniques other than bone grafting for restoration of deficient stock, such as the use of bone screws and cement, custom-augmented components, and metal wedge spacers.