The fate of unplanned retention of prosthetic articulating spacers for infected total hip and total knee arthroplasty.
Eighteen patients with periprosthetic joint infection (11 hips and 7 knees) treated by prosthetic articulating spacers retained their spacers and were followed up at an average of 43.8 months(range, 13-78 months). Fifteen patients maintained well-functioning spacers for an average of 42.7 months, of which 4 patients died with the spacers in situ at an average of 48.7 months. The mean Harris Hip Score and Knee Society knee and function scores of survivors were 92, 92, 88, respectively. Spacers were revised in 3 patients because of recurrent infection (n = 1) at 24 months and mechanical loosening (n = 2) at 74 and 50 months. Findings of this study suggest that a proportion of patients with unplanned retention of prosthetic spacers appear to function well up to 6 years without necessarily requiring further surgical intervention.
Harris Orthopedic Laboratory and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ho-Rim
HR
Choi
Harris Orthopedic Laboratory and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Andrew A
AA
Freiberg
Harris Orthopedic Laboratory and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Henrik
H
Malchau
Harris Orthopedic Laboratory and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Harry E
HE
Rubash
Harris Orthopedic Laboratory and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Young-Min
YM
Kwon
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003646:Debridement; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
fate; periprosthetic joint infection; prosthetic articulating spacer; retained spacer; two-stage revision