An Uncommon Complication of Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Patellar clunk syndrome (PCS) is an uncommon complication of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), a frequently performed orthopedic surgery used to treat refractory osteoarthritis. Patients with PCS classically have locking and catching symptoms with or without pain that occur with knee extension. Symptoms of the condition have the potential to greatly inhibit a patient’s ability to perform normal daily activities. Though typically a clinical diagnosis, new studies have found ultrasonography during knee range of motion to be a valuable diagnostic tool due to its safety, portability, and usability in the clinical setting. Surgical treatment of PCS is routinely performed arthroscopically or through arthrotomy revision, with favorable outcomes in the majority of cases. This case report illustrates a unique patient outcome in which a 64-year-old male patient developed bilateral PCS following bilateral TKA. The management plan included arthrotomy revision, to be scheduled when the patient had an available period for surgery and recovery.