Catastrophic Failure of the Tibial Component After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Fracture and Dissociation Between the Baseplate and Stem

Abstract

Fracture of the tibial component can be a devastating complication after primary total knee arthroplasty. While fractures of the tibial baseplate have been reported, failure at the junction between the baseplate and stem has not been well-described. We present a 49-year-old male who developed progressively worsening left knee pain and an effusion 7-8 years after an index total knee arthroplasty. Radiographs revealed component subsidence and subtle asymmetry between the baseplate and stem. At the time of revision, the tibial component was found to be fractured at the junction of the baseplate and stem, with complete dissociation between the two pieces. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for catastrophic failure, as this rare phenomenon can be subtle on radiographs and requires close monitoring for signs of component subsidence.

Keywords

• Total knee arthroplasty
• Total knee revision
• Catastrophic failure
• Tibial baseplate
• Osteolysis