Late Presentation of a Mycotic Popliteal Artery Pseudoaneurysm in the Setting of a Revised Total Knee Arthroplasty Complicated by Both Prior Infection and Periprosthetic Fracture: A Case Report

Abstract

Reports of adverse arterial events associated with total knee arthroplasty (TKA), such as ischemia, thrombosis, arterial injury, or pseudoaneurysm, are relatively rare in the orthopedic and vascular literature and are most commonly associated with direct trauma to the vessel. Additionally, arterial complications typically present within a short postoperative time frame. A delayed presentation of a mycotic arterial pseudoaneurysm in the setting of a revision arthroplasty complicated by infection and fracture has not, to the best knowledge of the authors, been described in the literature. We report the delayed presentation of a mycotic pseudoaneurysm in the setting of a revision TKA previously complicated by both infection and periprosthetic fracture. One year after fracture repair, the patient presented with acute thigh swelling and was diagnosed with a mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the right proximal popliteal artery. He was treated with surgical excision, reverse saphenous vein interpositional grafting, and a long-term course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. In the setting of a revision TKA and previous complications, the risk of future complications is increased and may not always involve direct vascular trauma. In patients with previously infected joints and new-onset vascular events, mycotic pseudoaneurysm must be included in the differential diagnosis.