Above-Knee Amputation in the Setting of a Chronic Soft Tissue Infection and Periprosthetic Joint Infection With Exposed Hardware

Total knee arthroplasty is one of the most common and successful orthopedic surgeries for the treatment of osteoarthritis. While infection is a common postoperative complication, periprosthetic joint infection is a rarer type of infection requiring aggressive treatment. This case report reviews the clinical course of a 71-year-old female with a history of recurrent prosthetic joint infections and osteomyelitis of the left knee and femur following a left total knee arthroplasty. Ten years after the index procedure, she developed a soft tissue ulcer and non-healing wound that led to exposure of her knee joint hardware at the level of the skin. Due to her complicated medical history, it was decided she would undergo an above-knee amputation. This report discusses a unique patient history of recurrent periprosthetic joint infections requiring extensive surgical and medical management, ultimately leading to an above-knee amputation. It also highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary team in the setting of complex patient care.