RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Metallosis in a total knee arthroplasty
JF BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP bcr2013202801
DO 10.1136/bcr-2013-202801
VO 2014
A1 Bhairavi Vivegananthan
A1 Rohi Shah
A1 A S Karuppiah
A1 S V Karuppiah
YR 2014
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2014/bcr-2013-202801.abstract
AB A 70-year-old woman presented with right knee pain and a ‘grinding’ sensation 6 months after a total knee replacement for osteoarthritis. Clinical examination revealed a valgus deformity, patellofemoral crepitus and a reduced knee flexion. Radiographs revealed distinctive findings including the ‘bubble sign’, ‘cloud sign’ and the ‘metal line sign’, which are diagnostic of metallosis.Metallosis is an uncommon complication of total joint replacements, where bone and periprosthetic soft tissues are infiltrated by metallic debris from wearing of the prostheses. This usually occurs in high-wear joints such as hips and knees. Treatment for patients diagnosed with metallosis is synovectomy and a revision surgery. Our patient underwent revision surgery 5 years after her initial surgery.