Total knee arthroplasty failure and gouty arthropathy

J Arthroplasty. 2010 Jun;25(4):658.e7-10. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2009.03.004. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

Abstract

We present a patient with gout and a total knee arthroplasty that failed secondary to infection. The English literature records only 5 other cases of gouty attacks after total knee arthroplasty. Symptoms, presentation, and laboratory tests do not definitively differentiate between infection and gout, but crystals in the joint aspirate are diagnostic. This case stresses the importance of recognizing crystalline arthropathy as a source of a painful knee and as a complicating factor during revision surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Gouty / surgery*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / adverse effects*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / etiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / surgery
  • Knee Prosthesis
  • Prosthesis Failure*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / etiology
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / surgery*
  • Reoperation