title: Results of infected total knee arthroplasty treated with arthroscopic debridement and continuous antibiotic irrigation system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arthroscopic debridement with continuous irrigation system was used with success in treating infective arthritis. We evaluated the effectiveness of arthroscopic debridement coupled with antibiotic continuous irrigation system in acute presentation of late infected total knee arthroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of medical record of patients with acute presentation of late infected total knee arthroplasty who were treated by arthroscopic debridement coupled with continuous postoperative antibiotic irrigation system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were included in our study. 15 (88%) patients preserved their total knee prosthesis at mean of followup of 27.5 months (range, 14-28 months). Two (12%) patients failed arthroscopic protocol and finally needed two stages revision. Our study showed an 88% prosthesis retention rate in patients with acute presentation of late prosthetic knee infection. No complication was associated with use of antibiotic irrigation system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic debridement combined with continuous antibiotic irrigation and suction is an effective treatment for patients with acute presentation of late infected total knee arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Tri Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Che-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chun-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Shih-Youeng
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Jen-Huei
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chia-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tsung-Ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Leou-Chyr
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lin
keywords: Arthroscopic debridement; infected total knee arthroplasty; irrigation