title: Are prosthetic spacers safe to use in 2-stage treatment for infected total knee arthroplasty?
abstract: This retrospective study compares treatment results of infected total knee arthroplasty with 2-stage exchange technique using 14 articulating spacers using metallic and polyethylene components (prosthetic group) and 33 static all-cement spacer (static group). For the prosthetic and static groups, treatment success rate was 71% and 67% at 58 months of follow-up, respectively, and not significantly different. The prosthetic group required less frequent extensile surgical approaches at the second-stage reimplantation. Range of motion was significantly improved in both groups, but there was no difference at latest follow-up between the groups. Of 14 in the prosthetic group, 4 (28%) did not undergo second-stage procedure. Antibiotic spacers consisting of prosthetic components can be a safe and effective treatment option for 2-stage revision total knee arthroplasty with equivalent infection control rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Ho-Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malchau
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bedair
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies