Acute, recurrent total knee dislocation: Polyethylene dislocation and malreduction

A 62-year-old man underwent total knee arthroplasty using a mobile-bearing prosthesis. Four days post-operatively the patient experienced the first of several acute knee dislocations. Closed reduction was performed at an outside hospital a total of three times prior to presentation at this institution. A two-stage exchange of the TKA was recommended due to the clinical suspicion for an infected prosthesis. Upon surgical exploration, it was discovered that the polyethylene insert had spun out completely to 180°. Closed reduction attempts of a posterior dislocation of a mobile-bearing knee prosthesis may contribute to complete 180° spinout of the polyethylene insert.