periarticular needle-based therapies can cause periprosthetic knee infections

Periarticular needle-based therapies such as dry needling, acupuncture, and genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation are becoming more popular for treatment of knee osteoarthritis. These therapies are also being used after total knee arthroplasty for persistent postoperative pain. Although limited published evidence exists for the risk of periprosthetic joint infection after these procedures, we describe one case of periprosthetic joint infection developing shortly after dry needling and another case developing shortly after genicular nerve blocks. We present details of these 2 cases along with a review of the literature regarding the use of periarticular needle-based therapies after total knee arthroplasty.