Clinical History
75-year-old man 7 months status post right total knee arthroplasty with worsening pain and swelling.
Diagnosis: Periprosthetic Infection of a Total Knee Arthroplasty with Erosions Along the Bone-metal Interface
In the context of periprosthetic joint infection evaluation, sonography is most frequently used to guide aspiration for fluid analysis.
Ultrasound helps differentiate between joint effusion and synovial thickening, allowing a much more targeted approach to aspiration and resulting in higher success rates with greater patient comfort than non-ultrasound technique.
Additional findings of infection or inflammation are often seen during sonographic evaluation, such as the prominent synovial thickening and hyperemia in this case.
Bony erosions are less commonly detected sonographically but are concerning.