Two-stage revision knee arthroplasty for metallosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis: A case report

We report a successful case of two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty performed for treating painless metallosis after total knee arthroplasty with a metal-backed patella. A 63-year-old woman diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis underwent left total knee arthroplasty with a metal-backed patella at 32 years of age. The patient did not have knee pain; however, knee joint swelling, a strange noise, and pigmentation were reported 4 years ago. Radiographs showed cloud and metal-line signs anteriorly and posteriorly at the femoral condyle. Therefore, a two-stage surgery was performed for infection prevention and ease of performing posterior synovectomy. The patient underwent initial synovectomy via a posterior approach, followed by anterior synovectomy and revision total knee arthroplasty. Synovectomy was performed well without perioperative infection or failure of wound healing. In cases with metallosis after total knee arthroplasty, the two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty should be considered, depending on the degree of synovial proliferation and the risk of complications.