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Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Apr 3 5:43pm | Replies (218)Comment receiving replies
I find your case fascinating because I have adhesive allergies as well and my first knee replacement had to be revised after 5 years due to the cement having “vanished”. Literally, there was no cement left when they went in to drill out the old knee, the doc just lifted it out without any problem! Now the revision is a bit loose. I wonder if my allergy to adhesive could be related to an allergy to bone cement thereby causing the cement to breakdown and vanish! My other knee is ready for replacement too and now I’m wondering if this is something I need to look at. Since I’ve had allergic reactions in the hospital to all forms of adhesive (from Bandaids to Tegaderm) I’m thinking I need to do the allergy testing. I’m also allergic to Nickel which piqued my inquiry.
Replies to "I find your case fascinating because I have adhesive allergies as well and my first knee..."
@mrsflutterby Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.
It sounds like you have had to undergo multiple knee surgeries and you are wondering if you have an allergy that is causing the, "cement" to disappear.
May I ask if an allergist would be the provider to discuss this with first or the surgeon?
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Nickel is probably the most common metal allergy because it is easily recognized. That's why costume jewelry has "nickel free" pierced earring posts. I learned early on my pieced ear holes would swell and turn black, but gold or surgical steel posts were okay sometimes but gold is the best. Blood Test showed I have a moderate nickel and moderate aluminum allergy the other metal allergies are only mild, but with exposure I have learned allergies become more severe. I do not understand why the 5 Day Extended Patch Test on the skin didn't show a reaction to metals. I even had it done twice for metals, yet I had clear reactions on the blood test. The full 5 Day Extended Patch Test testing for about 80 natural and chemical elements, plus the full metal panel is an additional cost. Basic 5 day test, $1,500 plus and Medicare pays for this. Yet Medicare wouldn't pay for the this metal test in the blood which my ortho said was more reliable for metals.
I learned I blister up from liquid bandage as well as other adhesive Band-Aid products. Yet some are okay. I do fine with the adhesive on paper tape. Also blood test showed no allergy to bone cement. This bone cement was not on my 5 day Extended Skin patch test.
If your bone cement is gone, it doesn't really vanish. It is transferred from your cells into your blood stream but I have no idea how long it lasts there before the body eliminates it.
You may not be allergic, but your body seems to attacking the bone cement to break it down and eliminate it.