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Case Reports
. 2020 Feb 7;2020(2):rjaa002.
doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjaa002. eCollection 2020 Feb.

Massive osteolysis due to galvanic corrosion after total knee arthroplasty: a rare cause for early revision?

Mark Johannes Maria Zee  1 , Barbara Catharina van Bemmel  2 , Jos Jacobus Arnoldus Maria van Raay  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Massive osteolysis due to galvanic corrosion after total knee arthroplasty: a rare cause for early revision?

Mark Johannes Maria Zee et al. J Surg Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 66-year-old male underwent a total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis after previous anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Seven years postoperatively, a symptomatic large lytic lesion was present surrounding the tibial stem. A titanium interference screw, which was used prior to fixate the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) graft, was in direct contact with the tibial component. Galvanic corrosion may have attributed to the development of the lytic lesion. It is advised to remove any metal hardware in the vicinity of joint prosthesis in order to prevent a possible galvanic corrosive reaction.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preoperative standing X-ray of the left knee. A large lytic lesion is seen surrounding the tibial component.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intraoperatively gray staining of the synovium was encountered.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The tibial bearing showed wear mainly involving the posterolateral corner.
Figure 4
Figure 4
After removal of tibial component a large pseudotumor was observed in the proximal tiba.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Test setup analyzing for a microcurrent between the tibial component and titanium interference screw.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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