title: Reimplantation for the salvage of an infected total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: We retrospectively reviewed the results in fourteen patients in whom salvage of an acutely infected total knee arthroplasty was attempted between 1970 and 1981 by the implantation of a new prosthesis within two weeks of removal of the infected one. Salvage was successful in six of the seven patients with a low-virulence infection but in only two of the seven patients with a high-virulence infection. Of the eight patients for whom the result was a functioning prosthesis, two had significant restriction of motion and one had moderate pain. If these three patients are eliminated from analysis, the over-all success rate is only 35 per cent (five of fourteen patients). We concluded that the implantation of another prosthesis for the treatment of infection of a total knee arthroplasty should be done with caution, and preferably when the infection has been caused by a low-grade organism and after a waiting period of longer than two weeks.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents