Lepra reaction mimicking prosthetic joint infection following total hip replacement: An unusual complication

Abstract

Joint replacement is a highly effective intervention that significantly improves patients' quality of life. Infection is a dreadful complication in total hip replacement (THR). Managing the prosthetic joint infection is a difficult task for surgeon. In today's era, patients with chronic mycobacterial infections are also treated with total hip arthroplasty. We are reporting a case who had lepromatous leprosy 5 years back treated as per the schedule who developed lepra reaction later. After treatment of lepra reaction, the patient developed avascular necrosis of femoral head. A hybrid THR was done for that to the patient. The report discusses lepra reaction following THR mimicking acute infection. In the literature, there are no reported cases of lepra reaction in a patient with THR done. Our case report presents with the dilemma of diagnosis between infection and lepra reaction following THR.

Keywords

• lepra reaction
• prosthetic joint infection
• total hip replacement