Abstract
We treated a 73 year-old male patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had many complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The patient underwent TKA of the right knee joint on August 4, 1994. Skin necrosis of the knee occurred 3 days after the operation. We performed three operations following this diagnosis. The first one involved skin necrosis, dehridment and re-suturing. The second and third were bipedicled skin flap and musculocutaneus operations, respectively. Fourteen months after TKA, a right patellar fracture occurred without any trauma. We operated twice, and the patient returned to ordinary daily activity. However, an infection of the right knee joint occurred, and we performed synovectomy and patellectomy. In all, we performed six operations due to complications after TKA. After the patellectomy, the patient had no pain and could walk with a T-cane.
