Pruritic postoperative eruption

Abstract

A 50-year-old woman presented 11 days following total knee arthroplasty with a 2-day history of an intensely pruritic rash and a reported fever of 38.3 °C. Postoperative medications included hydrocodone/acetaminophen and celecoxib. Dermatologic examination revealed a purpuric plaque with an overlying bulla on the right ventral wrist and a targetoid plaque on the right palm. Pink, edematous papules and plaques, some targetoid in appearance, were present diffusely (Fig 1, A–C). The surgical incision site showed no signs of infection.