Total Knee Arthroplasty Failure Induced by Metal Hypersensitivity
Ryan Gupta,A,B,C,D,E,F Duy Phan,A,B,C,D,E,F and Ran SchwarzkopfA,B,C,D,E,FKnee
Patient: Female, 70
Final Diagnosis: Metal hypersensitivity
Symptoms: Joint pain • swelling • instability
Medication: —
Clinical Procedure: Revision total knee arthroplasty
Specialty: Orthopedics and Traumatology
Objective:
Unusual clinical course
Background:
Metal hypersensitivity is an uncommon complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) that can lead to significant functional impairment and aseptic prosthesis failure.
Case Report:
We describe a 70-year-old patient who presented with persistent pain, swelling, and instability 2 years after a primary TKA. The patient had a history of metal hypersensitivity following bilateral metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA) that was revised to ceramic-on-polyethylene implants. Knee radiographs showed severe osteolysis with implant loosening. Serum cobalt was elevated and serum chromium was significantly elevated, while joint aspiration and inflammatory marker levels ruled out a periprosthetic infection. Revision TKA was performed, with intraoperative tissue pathology and postoperative leukocyte transformation testing confirming metal hypersensitivity as the cause for aseptic implant failure.
Conclusions:
This case report demonstrates the clinical and laboratory signs that suggest metal hypersensitivity in total knee arthroplasty and the potential for joint function restoration with revision surgery.
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