A Large Rice Body-Containing Cyst Mimicking Infection following Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report

Rice body synovitis in systemic lupus erythematosus

Rice bodies (RBs) synovitis in the shoulder joints of systemic lupus erythematosus patients is a rare clinical condition that has not been previously reported. Despite the fact that the diagnosis of RBs synovitis has primarily relied on MRI imaging, ultrasound has been used less frequently. In this report, we discuss a 43-year-old female diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with pain and swelling in the right shoulder. The ultrasound findings were typical, and the patient was diagnosed with RBs synovitis, as she had no history of tuberculosis or rheumatoid arthritis. Subsequently, the patient underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy and surgical excision, which led to a good postoperative outcome. Based on this case, a literature review of RBs synovitis over the past 2 decades indicates that rice bodies synovitis is rare in clinical presentation accompanied by SLE. Moreover, ultrasound has not been extensively employed for diagnosing this condition. It is important to note the pivotal role of ultrasound in detecting RBs synovitis, and it should be the preferred method for early detection. Therefore, ultrasound physicians should be well informed about this condition to enhance diagnostic precision.

Rice Body Formation in an Enterococcus faecalis-Infected Total Hip Arthroplasty Causing Sciatic Nerve Compression

We present a case of a 73-year-old lady with a previous uncemented left total hip arthroplasty (THA) three years prior to her current presentation. She presented with an enlarging 'granulomatous'-looking swelling at the distal aspect of her THA scar for three months that was associated with shooting pain from the posterior aspect of her hip radiating down to her foot. The culture and sensitivity of her hip aspirate revealed the growth of Enterococcus faecalis. She underwent revision surgery utilising a 'well-fixed' Exeter custom-made articulating spacer (CUMARS). Intra-operatively, a large encapsulated cyst containing rice bodies was discovered deep within the fascia lata. A complete excision of this cyst was performed. Post-operatively, the patient was treated with two weeks of IV antibiotics and ten weeks of oral antibiotics. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of rice bodies, with no malignancy seen. We aim to highlight the possibility of rice body cyst formation in the setting of a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) around a THA and the importance of early treatment in such cases. This is the first published report of a rice body cyst formation in an infected THA.

Exuberant Rice Body Formation Associated with Adverse Local Tissue Reaction After Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

CASE

A 65-year-old man with osteoarthritis of the hip developed a soft-tissue mass of the inferior gluteal region 3 years after metal-on-metal resurfacing hip arthroplasty. Clinical and imaging findings suggested an adverse local tissue reaction. Intraoperatively, nearly 1 liter of intra-articular fibrinous loose bodies (rice bodies) was removed, and histology showed features of an adaptive immune response. The patient had no evidence of an autoimmune disease or mycobacterial infection.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of florid rice bodies associated with a metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty and adverse local tissue reaction.

Rice body formation due to Haemophilus parainfluenza-associated chronic arthropathy

A 68-year-old woman with a medical history significant for psoriatic arthritis was found to have an enlarged, painful lump on her left hip 15 months after intramedullary rod placement for a left subtrochanteric femur fracture sustained in a fall. Histopathological findings showed rice body formation (RBF) with concurrent H. parainfluenza. RBF is a relatively rare arthropathy of a subset of chronic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or tuberculous arthropathy. RBF associated with psoriatic arthritis or orthopedic hardware placement has been reported in a handful of cases in the literature but there has not been any definitive evidence for RBF as a result of Haemophilus parainfluenza infections and is a rather unusual characteristic of this case.