Geniculate Artery Embolization in Patients With Recurrent Hemarthrosis After Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study

BackgroundRecurrent hemarthrosis after knee arthroplasty is an uncommon and disabling complication of this frequently performed procedure. Selective endovascular embolization of the geniculate arteries is one of the therapeutic options to manage this complication. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of this treatment in patients suffering from recurrent hemarthrosis after knee arthroplasty.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of 31 patients (39 embolization procedures) with recurrent hemarthrosis after knee arthroplasty. There were 17 men and 14 women with a median age of 67 years (range 48-90). All patients were referred for geniculate artery embolization between January 2007 and November 2016.ResultsTwenty-seven procedures were executed on the right side and 12 on the left side. Total knee arthroplasty was performed on 29 patients, only 2 patients underwent unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Embolization of the superior geniculate arteries was achieved in all patients. In 12 of 39 procedures (31%), at least 1 of the inferior geniculate arteries could not be catheterized, therefore embolization was achieved through collaterals. Symptomatic improvement was observed in 26 of 31 patients (84%). Discomfort or mild postprocedural pain was observed in most patients, needing only minor pain medication, mostly resolving within 24 hours. Two patients presented with a severe complication: a 48-year-old male patient developed septic arthritis and an 85-year-old hypertensive female patient treated with anticoagulants showed aseptic necrosis of the femoral condyles.ConclusionEmbolization of geniculate arteries is a safe and effective treatment in recurrent hemarthrosis post knee arthroplasty. Clinical improvement was seen in most patients.     

Recurrent hemarthrosis after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Recurrent hemarthrosis after knee arthroplasty can be disabling, requiring adequate and immediate diagnosis and treatment for recovery of symptoms and joint function. The most commonly reported cause is impingement of proliferative synovium between prosthetic components. Although various procedures for hemarthrosis have been reported after knee arthroplasty for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment, the recommended first-line therapy is open surgery or embolization. Although hyperplastic synovium was observed during the first and second arthrotomy, in our case, tissue impingement was not detected. We describe a rare case of recurrent hemarthrosis after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and successful treatment by open synovectomy. A 66-year-old woman presented with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle in the right leg. She underwent UKA of the right knee of the medial condyle. Eighteen months after UKA, the patient developed recurrent hemarthrosis. Open arthrotomy was performed 22 months after UKA, revealing only hematoma with no obvious hemorrhage or loosening of the prosthesis. No history of trauma or use of anticoagulant medications was present. After a symptom-free period of 8 months, another 2 episodes of hemarthrosis occurred over the course of 8 months. A second open arthrotomy was performed. Hyperplastic synovium with fibrin and hemosiderin pigmentation was observed, again without hemorrhage or loosening. There were no pathological features of pigmented villonodular synovitis. Synovectomy was performed, and no hemarthrosis has recurred for 2 years.     

Recurrent hemarthrosis following total knee arthroplasty. Report of a case treated with arterial embolization

Recurrent spontaneous hemarthrosis of the knee is common and often related to a detectable cause. In contrast, hemarthrosis after knee arthroplasty is rare and frequently unexplained. We report a case of recurrent hemarthrosis 6 years after total knee arthroplasty. The cause was hypervascularization about the joint, and embolization therapy was effective.     

Therapeutic embolization of the genicular arteries for recurrent hemarthrosis after total knee arthroplasty

The case of a recurrent hemarthrosis initially presenting 30 months after a total knee arthroplasty in a patient on lifelong warfarin is described. Angiography was used to aid in the diagnosis, and therapeutic selective embolization of the superior genicular arteries was performed with satisfactory clinical results.     

Embolization of traumatic pseudoaneurysms after total knee arthroplasty

We report on 2 cases of traumatic pseudoaneurysm after total knee arthroplasty. In one patient, a hemarthrosis and a pulsatile antecubital mass developed 1 month after arthroplasty, prompting angiography. In the second patient, evacuation of a large hemarthrosis was performed before angiography and embolization. In both patients, the pseudoaneurysm was successfully treated without the need for surgical repair, using percutaneous thrombin injection or transcatheter embolization. No recurrence of hemarthrosis was seen in either patient at up to 24 months of follow-up evaluation. These cases show the use of angiography in reconstructed joints when acute or delayed hemarthrosis occurs, and the role of embolization techniques in this setting.     

Recurrent hemarthrosis in a hemophilic patient after revision total knee arthroplasty

Recurrent hemarthrosis following a revision total knee arthroplasty is a rare complication. The likelihood of encountering bleeding complications in patients with hemophilia C following major surgery is unpredictable. Although the use of postoperative chemotherapeutic agents to prevent deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is considered the standard of care for most patients, its use in the hemophiliac population is unknown. This case describes a woman with Hemophilia C who presented with recurrent hemarthrosis 9 days after her revision total knee arthroplasty. Initial treatment efforts were directed towards treating the patient's underlying coagulopathy. Repeated transfusions of fresh frozen plasma and desmopressin were given in an attempt to achieve hemostasis. However the hemarthrosis did not resolve and 36 days postoperatively, a pseudoaneurysm of the left superior geniculate artery was found by angiography and percutaneously embolized. This article presents the first case, to our knowledge, of recurrent hemarthrosis in a hemophiliac patient after revision total knee arthroplasty. It further highlights the importance of considering all possible causes of postoperative bleeding to make a timely diagnosis in the face of a confounding clinical picture.     

Therapeutic embolization for the treatment of recurrent hemarthrosis after total knee arthroplasty due to an arteriovenous fistula

We describe the case of a 79-year-old woman who presented with recurrent hemarthrosis 8 years after primary total knee arthroplasty. An arteriovenous fistula of the superior lateral geniculate artery was diagnosed by arteriography after arthroscopy of the knee revealed multiple organized hematomata with minimal synovitis. The arteriovenous fistula was treated by percutaneous coil embolization and the symptoms resolved.     

Spontaneous hemarthrosis 6 years after total knee arthroplasty

Spontaneous hemarthrosis is an uncommon complication of total knee arthroplasty. We report the case of a tense hemarthrosis developing 6 years after total knee arthroplasty as a result of a prominent superolateral femoral flare eroding through an atherosclerotic superior lateral genicular artery.     

Synovectomy of the knee for hemophilic arthropathy

Synovectomy of the knee for the control of recurrent hemarthrosis was performed in thirteen patients with hemophilic arthropathy. Preoperatively, all patients had experienced an average of three bleeding episodes into the affected joint per month, and had been unresponsive to at least six months of medical management. Radiographically, all knees had either Stage-II or Stage-III hemophilic arthropathy. The average age of the patients at the time of synovectomy was sixteen years and the average length of follow-up was 7.3 years (range, two to eleven years and seven months). Although the motion of the knee remained unchanged postoperatively in two patients, ten patients had an average loss of 41 degrees. One patient eventually required an arthrodesis. Radiographically, there was slight further joint deterioration after synovectomy, and no knee progressed beyond Stage-III hemophilic arthropathy. Only one patient in our series had a recurrent spontaneous hemarthrosis of the synovectomized knee, although two others had traumatic bleeding episodes. The complications included three immediate postoperative hemarthrosis requiring surgical evacuation, isoimmune hemolytic anemia in one patient, patellofemoral adhesions in two knees, and a total fibrous ankylosis that required a knee arthrodesis in one patient. It was concluded from our study that chronic recurrent hemarthrosis and the pain associated with persistent synovitis in the hemophilic knee can be effectively eliminated for as many as twelve years after open synovectomy, although usually with significant loss of motion of the knee. This procedure also appeared to slow the progression of arthropathy, and no patient had been considered for a total knee replacement at the time of writing.     

Therapeutic embolization in the treatment of recurrent haemarthrosis following knee arthroplasty

Recurrent spontaneous haemarthrosis after knee arthroplasty occurs in less than 1% of cases, commonly thought to be the result of impingement of hypertrophic vascular synovium or fat pads, and exacerbated by anti‐coagulation or anti‐platelet therapy. Traditional treatment comprises an initial period of rest followed by open or arthroscopic washout, and by synovectomy if bleeding recurs or fails to settle. We present three cases of recurrent haemarthrosis following knee arthroplasty, which were successfully treated by angiography and feeding vessel coil embolization. An injury to one of the genicular arteries was identified as the cause of bleeding in all three cases; one manifest as a traumatic arteriovenous fistula. Bleeding ceased in all cases without recurrence (follow‐up period 6 months – 5 years, median of 2 years). Endovascular treatment offers a minimally invasive treatment option in selected cases of recurrent post‐operative haemarthrosis.     

Recurrent hemarthrosis after knee joint arthroplasty: etiology and treatment

This study reports the results for 10 patients with recurrent hemarthrosis after knee joint arthroplasty. The average interval between arthroplasty and the first instance of hemarthrosis was at 26 months, and the average number of hemarthroses per patient was 3.8. In 3 patients, the bleeding responded to simple conservative measures. The remaining 7 needed surgery; there were 6 arthroscopic synovectomies and 1 polyethylene revision. Impingement of the proliferative synovium was observed in only 2 patients during surgical intervention. In the 2 patients in whom arthroscopic management was successful, another procedure with an electric coagulator, in addition to a formal synovectomy, was performed. The use of a coagulator may be helpful for direct coagulation when arthroscopic management is selected, although open synovectomy is curative in most cases.     

Treatment of Recurrent Hemarthrosis Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Surgical Interventions

BackgroudRecurrent hemarthrosis following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a rare complication. Its pathophysiology and standard treatments have not yet been established. In this study, we report 7 cases of recurrent hemarthrosis after TKA in which failure of the initial conservative treatment was followed by angiographic embolization; in 1 of the 7 cases, arthroscopic electrocauterization was also performed after treatment failure with selective embolization.MethodsFrom January 2015 to May 2018, 7 patients visited our hospital due to recurrent hemarthrosis after TKA. Their medical records and serologic test results were reviewed to check for the presence of any bleeding disorder and history of anticoagulant use. Implant malalignment and instability were checked using X-ray. In all cases, the conservative treatment failed, so interventional angiography with selective embolization was performed, which was also followed by arthroscopic electrocauterization if the outcome was unsatisfactory.ResultsThe interval between TKA and the onset of hemarthrosis ranged from 3 to 76 months (average, 34.1 months). There was no coagulopathy and instability. All patients underwent conservative treatment at an interval of 4.3 months and the rate of relapse was 3.1 on average. On the interventional angiography, 6 cases showed vascular blush, and 1 case had pulsatile bleeding. The average duration for interventional angiography was 90.9 minutes. The average length of follow-up was 38.8 months. Embolization was successfully performed in 4 cases. In 2 of 3 failed cases, the symptoms improved without further treatment. In the remaining 1 failed case, the patient had a relapse of hemarthrosis, so an arthroscopic procedure was performed, which led to identification of the suspicious bleeding point by using preoperative angiographic findings. Electrocauterization was performed and active bleeding was stopped. All cases with recurrent hemarthrosis achieved improvement.ConclusionsInterventional angiography was used to aid in the diagnosis of recurrent hemarthrosis, and therapeutic selective embolization provided satisfactory clinical results. Even if selective embolization fails, interventional angiography may be helpful for further surgical procedures because it reveals vascular blush of a bleeding site. Therefore, interventional angiography and selective embolization should be considered to be a useful treatment for recurrent hemarthrosis after TKA.     

Embolization of the Geniculate Arteries Is an Effective Treatment of Recurrent Hemarthrosis Following Total Knee Arthroplasty That Can Be Safely Repeated

Background

Recurrent hemarthrosis is a late complication in up to 1.6% of patients following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In the absence of intrinsic coagulopathy, one etiology is bleeding of hypertrophic vascular synovium. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients referred to our center for angiographic embolization of geniculate arteries for recurrent hemarthrosis following TKA.

VS15PTHERAPEUTIC EMBOLISATION IN THE TREATMENT OF RECURRENT HAEMARTHROSIS FOLLOWING KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

Recurrent spontaneous haemarthrosis after knee arthroplasty occurs in less than 1% of cases, commonly thought to be result of impingement of hypertrophic vascular synovium or fat pads, exacerbated by anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents. Traditional managements include conservative management with rest and ice initially, followed by open or arthroscopic washout and synovectomy if bleeding recurs or fail to settle. We present 3 cases of recurrent haemarthrosis following knee arthroplasties which were successfully treated with angiography and coil embolisation. Injuries to one of the genicular arteries were identified as the cause in all three cases with one manifesting in formation of a traumatic arteriovenous malformation. All cases were associated with resolution of symptoms with no recurrence (follow‐up period 6 months – 5 years, median of 2 years). We discuss the possibility that direct injury to genicular arteries and the development of subsequent complications including arteriovenous malformation and false aneurysm as more likely aetiology of recurrent bleeding.     

Recurrent spontaneous hemarthrosis after total knee arthroplasty successfully treated with synoviorthesis

A case of spontaneous recurrent hemarthrosis—due to developed hypertrophied synovium—after total knee arthroplasty is reported. The patient was successfully treated with radiosynovectomy. The first hemorrhage occurred 18 months after the total knee arthroplasty. Several similar episodes followed over a period of 4 years. Because conservative treatment failed to control the bleeding, an arthroscopic lavage was performed, which revealed the existence of proliferative synovium. A significant part of the hypertrophic tissue was excised with the use of a thermocoagulator. However, 1 month later, another episode of hemarthrosis occurred. As a final step before reoperation, the patient was treated with intra-articular injection of ytrium 90. Eighteen months later, she remains symptom-free, is very satisfied with the result, and reports no new episode of hemarthrosis.     

Atraumatic haemarthrosis following total knee replacement treated with selective embolisation

Spontaneous haemarthrosis in the absence of anticoagulant medication or a bleeding disorder is a very rare complication after total knee arthroplasty. A case of recurrent spontaneous haemarthrosis following total knee replacement in a 69-year-old patient is reported. Angiography was used to aid the diagnosis. It demonstrated an abnormal blush of vessels around the anterior aspect of the knee joint, that was fed by genicular branches and a recurrent branch of the anterior tibial artery. Selective embolisation of the bleeding vessels with coils led to immediate control of the bleeding. No further recurrence of haemarthrosis has been recorded.     

Allograft closure of lateral release after revision total knee arthroplasty

Lateral patellar retinacular release (lateral release) is a common technique for resolving patellar tracking issues during total knee arthroplasty. Complications such as hemarthrosis, wound healing complications, patellar fracture, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and medial subluxation of the patella have been described. This is a case presentation of a 69-year-old woman who developed severe prepatellar bursitis from a sinus tract resulting from a lateral release after total knee arthroplasty. After failing nonoperative modalities, she was treated with an allograft dermal tissue graft (AlloDerm; LifeCell Corp, Branchburg, NJ) over the defect, which has resulted in resolution of symptoms at 2-year follow-up.     

血友病关节炎人工膝关节置换及围手术期处理

目的探讨对血友病关节炎患者行人工膝关节置换的临床效果及其围手术期处理方法。方法1997年2月至2006年2月在血液内科的配合下,在围手术期行凝血因子Ⅷ和Ⅸ活性水平及抑制性抗体监测,强化凝血因子替代补充,我们对4例血友病关节炎患者共6个膝关节行人工膝关节置换治疗。术后平均随访4．4年,记录关节功能改善程度及并发症处理。结果血友病关节炎患者行人工膝关节置换可以使关节疼痛明显缓解,步行距离、上下楼梯和坐位起立等功能明显改善,关节活动度增加。术后早期3个膝关节出现关节内血肿或肌肉出血,其中1例患者因凝血因子Ⅷ抑制性抗体形成,单侧膝关节出现伤口愈合问题,1例患者一过性腓总神经麻痹,1例患者发生静脉循环危象。术后晚期1例患者出现双肘关节出血,但无晚期感染、假体松动、移位和断裂。结论人工膝关节置换可以为重度血友病性关节炎患者减轻关节疼痛,改善关节功能,但是围手术期并发症较多,需要密切监测凝血因子Ⅷ或Ⅸ活性,监测抑制性抗体形成,防止各种早期和晚期并发症的发生。     

Superior medial geniculate artery pseudoaneurysm after primary total knee arthroplasty

Vascular complications after total knee arthroplasty are rare. To date, there are 7 reported cases of pseudoaneurysms affecting the popliteal artery and 6 cases affecting one of the geniculate arteries. We present a case of a geniculate artery pseudoaneurysm that shared symptoms of a deep venous thrombosis on physical examination of a patient who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty. To date, there are no reports in American literature of pseudoaneurysms affecting the superior medial geniculate artery after primary total knee arthroplasty. After a vascular workup including computed tomographic angiography, surgical management included evacuation of the pseudoaneurysm and ligation of the feeding artery. The patient went on to successful recovery.     

Presentation of gamma-irradiated-in-air polyethylene wear in the form of a synovial cyst

The increased wear of polyethylene sterilized with gamma irradiation in air has well been documented in the total knee arthroplasty literature. Our case report describes a patient with a well-functioning total knee replacement presenting with wear debris synovitis in the form of a large synovial cyst. We discuss this patient's preoperative evaluation, intraoperative findings, and postoperative outcome after synovectomy and polyethylene exchange. We also review the current literature on appropriate polyethylene sterilization methods.