KNEE ARTHRITIS - Changing the forces through the joint :

Unispacer Failure - - Posted by scooby172 (scooby172), 28 December 2003

I had a unispacer put in July of '03.  Initially I was very optimistic about the results but, almost 6 months post op I am still experiencing significant pain.  I did rehab for approx 3 months but my knee will not straighten past minus ten and flex is less than 90 degrees.  I cannot go up and down stairs and have difficulty walking for short distances.  I've had one cortisone shot which did not help.  My doctor is now suggesting a unicompartmental knee replacement.  I'm only 41 and like to be active, the thought of going through another surgery is very overwhelming at this point.  Anyone with a similar experience?  or positive results with uni knee?  Thanks for any input
Posted by Michael (Michael), 12 January 2004

Hi, I am in the same boat. I am 38 years old and I had a uni-spacer put in April, 03.

After the uni-spacer was put in I had an arthriscopy to get rid of the build up of scar tissue which is what they believed was the cause of the knee not going straight. I was in PT within 2 hours of the surgery and still as of today my knee will not go straight.  From the research I have done there seems to be a 50% success ratio with the uni-spacer & I guess we are in the other 50% category.  

I am going in for a partial knee replacement in a week & a half, this seems to be the only option that I have left.  I drive a tractor trailer for a living & I am trying to find information on how long the partial knee will last doing my line of work?  Has your doctor told you anything about what the partial knees life expectancy is?

Are you having any problems with your lower back or other knee?

thanks and good luck to you
Posted by scooby172 (scooby172), 12 January 2004

Hi Michael,
Thanks for your reply regarding the unispacer.  My doctor did not say how long the partial knee would last, he was vague at best.  He also told me that the unicompartmental knee replacement was not a guarantee that my knee would be better but, he was 90% sure it would work.  I'm not scheduled for the uni yet, am giving the unispacer another month or so to see if anything changes.
Posted by scooby172 (scooby172), 12 January 2004

Sorry, hit enter before I was done typing.  Currently I am not having any difficulty with my other knee or back.  Please let me know how your surgery and recovery goes.  Good luck!
     
Posted by Michael (Michael), 13 January 2004

Hi, my wife contacted the manufacturer of the uni-spacer and they suggested that it was the buildup of scar tissue that's why I had the 2nd arthriscopy done.  You may want to find out from your doctor if the uni-spacer is rotating and sliding properly inside your leg (you can determine this through your x-rays), if it is, then there is a possiblity that scar tissue is what is preventing you from full extension, so before you give up on the uni-spacer, you may want to have the arthriscopy done to remove the scar tissue.  My doctor did that but it didn't seem to work on me, but it's worth the shot to not have to do a partial knee.  

Good luck to you too....Mike
Posted by scooby172 (scooby172), 14 January 2004

Thanks Mike,
I will check with my doctor about the scar tissue before I agree to the partial knee.
Does it make sense to think that because my knee does not have full ROM (have not since the surgery) the unispacer has not been able to properly find it's place in my knee?  If I could get full ROM the unispacer may be able to find it's groove and decrease pain?  Any thoughts?
Posted by Michael (Michael), 18 January 2004

Hi, that would depend if the 'spacer is sliding and rotating properly but just getting stuck at the end because of scar tissue. If it's not rotating or sliding, then your bone may not be at the right curvature, it may not be the right size (there are about 12 different sizes that they can put in your knee), or the damn thing just isn't gonna work (which is my problem - I have rotation and sliding, but it still won't go straight).
If your doctor does determine that it is scar tissue and wants to do the scope, then make sure that he sends you to intensive therapy starting the day of surgery. I was in PT within 2 hours of being released from the surgi-center.  

I have constant pain, so I am not sure what the pain would feel like if it was just a simple scar tissue issue.

I'm going in next Thursday to get it removed. I insisted that the doctor gives me the 'spacer.  I am going to use it as a paperweight.

Are you in the US? If so, what state are you in? I am in Jersey.

Posted by scooby172 (scooby172), 20 January 2004

HI Mike,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge/experiences regarding your Unispacer.  I have an appt. with my MD on Thursday so will ask what he thinks regarding the scar tissue.

I have also had the thought that I would like to have my spacer if it is going to be removed, not sure what I would use it for...

Good luck with your upcoming surgery, I am also in the USA, New York.
   Take Care

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