HOW MANY REVISION ARTHROPLASTIES DO WE UNDERTAKE PRIOR TO ARTHRODESIS? (CASE REPORT OF A PATIENT WITH RHEUMATOID KNEE ARTHRITIS)

Abstract

The authors present a clinical case of a female patient with seropositive rheumatoid polyarthritis mainly affecting the knee joints. The patient underwent a primary total bilateral knee replacement. Surgical site infection required multiple revisions including replacement of extensive bone defects of AORI type 3 by structural femur and tibia allografts as well as allografting of extensor mechanism. Repeated attempts to eliminate infection, to gain support ability of extremities and joints motion were not successful. Long-term staged surgical treatment resulted in removal of prostheses and bilateral knee arthrodesis to restore support function of the extremities.

Keywords

• rheumatoid arthritis
• knee joint
• revision joint replacement
• bone defects
• structural allografts
• arthrodesis.