Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees patients with painful or failing knee replacements at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. If your first knee replacement was done elsewhere, in Dubai or abroad, bring every document you have from that operation: the implant details and the old X-rays shape the plan for a revision. He tells you which hospital any operation would be in.
What is revision knee replacement?
Most knee replacements work well for many years. Some, though, become painful, swollen, stiff or unstable. A revision knee replacement is a second operation in which the surgeon removes some or all of the parts of the first replacement and puts in new ones. Common reasons are the parts loosening from the bone, the plastic insert wearing out, infection, a knee that feels wobbly because the ligaments are unbalanced, severe stiffness, or a fracture around the implant after a fall. Revision is a longer and more complex operation than a first replacement, and it often needs special implants with longer stems or metal blocks to replace lost bone.
Who it can help
- A knee replacement that has become painful again after a good period.
- Swelling, warmth or a wound that leaks after a knee replacement, which can mean infection.
- A replaced knee that feels unstable or gives way.
- A replaced knee that has stayed very stiff despite physiotherapy.
- A broken bone around a knee replacement, often after a fall.
- X-rays that show the parts loosening or the plastic wearing thin.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash lists revisions on his CV under joint replacement, alongside primary knee and hip replacement. He trained in hip and knee replacement on a fellowship at Sunshine Hospitals in Secunderabad, India, in 2016, and attended a revision knee replacement course in 2019. With a painful replacement, his first job is to find the cause, because the treatment for infection is very different from the treatment for loosening or instability. He explains what the tests show and what a revision would involve before any decision.
What to expect
Finding the cause
He examines the knee and reviews your old operation notes and X-rays. Blood tests, and sometimes fluid drawn from the knee with a needle, check for infection. A CT or bone scan may be needed.
Deciding together
He explains which parts need changing, whether the operation can be done in one stage or two, the risks and the likely recovery. You decide.
Health checks
Because revision is a bigger operation, a full medical check comes first. Heart, kidney or diabetes problems may need a specialist review.
The operation
The old parts and any cement are removed carefully to save bone, and new implants are fitted. It often takes longer than a first replacement.
If there is infection
Sometimes the implant is removed and a temporary antibiotic spacer is placed, with antibiotics through a drip for some weeks, before a new knee is fitted in a second operation.
Recovery and follow-up
Physiotherapy starts in hospital. He follows your progress at planned visits for months afterwards.
Recovery, in general terms
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- Recovery is usually slower than after a first knee replacement.
- A frame or crutches for the first weeks, sometimes with limits on how much weight the leg can take.
- Help at home with cooking, shopping and bathing for several weeks.
- Daily exercises to bring back movement and strength over several months.
Risks to know about
- Infection in the wound or around the new implant.
- Blood clots in the leg or lung.
- Stiffness or reduced bending of the knee.
- A fracture of the bone during surgery, or injury to a nerve or blood vessel.
- General medical problems such as a heart attack or stroke, which are more likely with a longer operation.
When to book a visit
Book a visit if a knee replacement has become painful, stiff or unstable, even years after the operation. Call the clinic the same day, or go to an emergency department, for a hot, red or leaking wound, a fever or chills, or a swollen, painful calf.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
Questions patients ask
Is revision knee surgery covered by insurance in Dubai?
Many Dubai plans cover a revision when it is medically needed, usually with pre-approval. Ask the clinic to check your plan before the operation is booked.
Why does a knee replacement fail?
The common reasons are loosening of the parts from the bone, wear of the plastic insert, infection, instability, severe stiffness, and a fracture around the implant. Younger and more active patients can outlast their first knee and need a revision later.
Is revision surgery harder than the first knee replacement?
Yes. It is longer and more complex, it often needs special implants, and recovery is usually slower. The risk of complications is higher than with a first replacement.
Does an infected knee replacement always need two operations?
Not always. Some early infections are treated by washing the joint out and changing the plastic insert. Others need the implant removed, a temporary antibiotic spacer and a new knee fitted later. The choice depends on the germ, how long the infection has been there and the state of the knee.
My knee replacement was done in another country. Can it be revised in Dubai?
Yes, a revision can be planned in Dubai. Bring the operation notes, the implant sticker or details if you have them, and all your X-rays. Knowing which implant was used helps the planning.
Book an appointment
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