Knee Disarticulation for a Total Knee Arthroplasty Periprosthetic Fracture

Total knee arthroplasty, although a very successful surgery, can present the patient with several potential complications, including the risk for periprosthetic fractures. Complications involving periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty can present a complex clinical scenario for orthopedic surgeons. To date, adequate literature exists to guide surgeons in approaching most periprosthetic fractures; however, standard operating procedure can fall short when confronted with more complex clinical scenarios. The authors present an alternative approach, falling outside the traditional paradigm, to addressing a periprosthetic tibial fracture in the setting of a previous total knee arthroplasty. Given both the patient's physiological factors and the inherent factors of the fracture, the authors found that the first-line treatments for periprosthetic fracture, including open reduction and internal fixation and joint revision, were inadequate and posed more potential risks than benefits for the patient. In light of this situation, the authors elected to treat this patient's periprosthetic fracture with a through knee amputation, as this provided the patient with the lowest cost in morbidity while still addressing the fracture. [ Orthopedics. 2016; 39(4):e775–e778.]