{"title":"Fracture of a temporary PROSTALAC knee spacer leading to mechanical symptoms after prolonged use.","authors":"Young Ju Song","doi":"10.1007/s00256-026-05173-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 81-year-old woman with chronic periprosthetic knee infection underwent implantation of a temporary articulating PROSTALAC spacer following prosthesis removal. Over the ensuing 3 months, she developed worsening mechanical symptoms including instability, clicking, and difficulty bearing weight. Radiographs and MRI demonstrated a transverse fracture through the femoral component of the spacer with cement fragmentation and malalignment. Revision surgery with replacement of the fractured spacer led to resolution of symptoms and improved postoperative function. This case highlights the limited structural durability of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based articulating spacers during prolonged implantation and emphasizes the importance of imaging evaluation when new mechanical symptoms arise.</p>","PeriodicalId":21783,"journal":{"name":"Skeletal Radiology","volume":" ","pages":"1425-1428"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Skeletal Radiology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-026-05173-8","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/2/18 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ORTHOPEDICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
A 81-year-old woman with chronic periprosthetic knee infection underwent implantation of a temporary articulating PROSTALAC spacer following prosthesis removal. Over the ensuing 3 months, she developed worsening mechanical symptoms including instability, clicking, and difficulty bearing weight. Radiographs and MRI demonstrated a transverse fracture through the femoral component of the spacer with cement fragmentation and malalignment. Revision surgery with replacement of the fractured spacer led to resolution of symptoms and improved postoperative function. This case highlights the limited structural durability of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based articulating spacers during prolonged implantation and emphasizes the importance of imaging evaluation when new mechanical symptoms arise.
期刊介绍：
Skeletal Radiology provides a forum for the dissemination of current knowledge and information dealing with disorders of the musculoskeletal system including the spine. While emphasizing the radiological aspects of the many varied skeletal abnormalities, the journal also adopts an interdisciplinary approach, reflecting the membership of the International Skeletal Society. Thus, the anatomical, pathological, physiological, clinical, metabolic and epidemiological aspects of the many entities affecting the skeleton receive appropriate consideration.
This is the Journal of the International Skeletal Society and the Official Journal of the Society of Skeletal Radiology and the Australasian Musculoskelelal Imaging Group.
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