Case Report
Recurrent Total Knee Arthroplasty Dislocation
After Dorsal Meningioma Diagnosed
Yaiza Lopiz, MD, PhD, Carlos García-Fernández, MD,
Fernando Marco, MD, PhD, and Luis López-Durán, MD, PhD
Abstract: We report on a 68-year-old woman with gonarthrosis who underwent total knee
arthroplasty. Having initially achieved a satisfactory result, she developed at 5 months
postoperation an irreducible flexion contracture necessitating revision surgery; but no pathological
findings were discovered. In the immediate postoperative period, the patient developed a severe
spasm of the hamstring muscles and a paralysis of the external popliteal sciatic nerve with a
posterior dislocation of the knee. After reduction, an electromyography study showed an
alteration in medullary sensitive conduction; and the magnetic resonance image showed a lesion
compatible with meningioma. This complication has not been previously described as a
consequence of spinal tumor. Technical considerations are described for this rare complication,
which remains a serious challenge for the orthopedic surgeon. Keywords: meningioma, total
knee arthroplasty, dislocation.
© 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Case Report
A 68-year-old woman was diagnosed with primary
osteoarthritis of the right knee, and a cemented posterior
stabilized total knee prosthesis with mobile-bearing
(DePuy PFC Sigma,Warsaw, Ind) was implanted. No
intraoperative complications occurred, and the patient
was discharged home on the sixth postoperative day
with a range movement of 90° of flexion and complete
extension (Fig. 1A).
On the fifth month after total knee arthroplasty, the
patient presented a fixed flexion contracture (85°) and
pain. She did not suffer any traumatic incident, and
she did not present other signs or symptoms that sug-
gested infection or aseptic loosening of the prosthesis.
The laboratory data and the results of radiographic
study were normal.
In view of the presence of a nonreducible flexion
contracture of the knee and the suspicion of a possible
dislocation or breakage of the polyethylene insert,
operative revision was undergone. The results of
histological studies (presence of polymorphonuclear
neutrophils) and cultures of specimens of periprosthetic
tissue that had been obtained during the surgery were
negative. At the time of macroscopic examination, no
signs of dislocation or breakage of the polyethylene
insert were found; and the prosthesis was implanted
correctly without macroscopic signs of infection and
with good stability on varus-valgus testing.
In this situation, we decided to extract the femoral
component and make an overresection of the distal
femur with a progressive posterior capsular release to
increase flexion gap. After this, the knee had good
stability and presented complete extension. Hence, the
knee was immobilized in 10° flexion with a cylinder cast.
In the immediate postoperative period, the patient
developed a severe spasm of her hamstring muscles,
breaking the cast because of flexion contracture; and
a new RX showed a posterior prosthesis dislocation
(Fig. 1B). Reduction was done under image intensifier
guidance on the same day. Because of the trend toward
flexion contracture, the appearance of numbness in the
lower extremities, and the development of a progressive
external popliteal sciatic nerve paralysis, electromyog-
raphy study was ordered. This study showed a severe
alteration in medullary sensitive conduction and more
affectation of the right side. Magnetic resonance imaging
From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos,
Madrid, Spain.
Submitted May 13, 2009; accepted November 11, 2010.
The Conflict of Interest statement associated with this article can be
found at doi:10.1016/j.arth.2010.11.018.
Reprint requests: Yaiza Lópiz-Morales, MD, PhD, Calle Azafrán n°1,
3°D, CP:28222. Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
© 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
0883-5403/2608-0073$36.00/0
doi:10.1016/j.arth.2010.11.018
1570.e9
The Journal of Arthroplasty Vol. 26 No. 8 2011