title: Charnley low-friction arthroplasty in diabetic patients.
abstract: A retrospective study of 44 diabetic patients who, between them, had 62 Charnley low-friction arthroplasties, showed a superficial-infection rate of 9.7 per cent and a deep-infection rate of 5.6 per cent. All the operations were carried out in the Charnley clear-air enclosure and prophylactic antibiotics were not used. A statistically significant increase in the overall rate of infection was found in diabetic patients when compared with non-diabetic osteoarthritic patients (P less than 0.001) and rheumatoid patients (P less than 0.01). Hence it is suggested that in diabetic patients there may well be a place for prophylactic antibiotics in hip replacement surgery in addition to the use of the clean-air enclosure.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000601:surgery; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005260:Female; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections; D013290:Streptococcal Infections; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*