title: Revision of infected total knee arthroplasty: two-stage reimplantation using an antibiotic-impregnated static spacer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A two-stage revision remains as the "gold standard" treatment for chronically infected total knee arthroplasties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five septic knee prostheses were revised with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Static antibiotic-impregnated cement spacers were used in all cases. Intravenous antibiotics according to sensitivity test of the culture were applied during patients' hospital stay. Oral antibiotics were given for another 5 weeks. Second-stage surgery was undertaken after control of infection with normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein values. Extensile techniques were used if needed and metallic augments were employed for bone loss in 32 femoral and 29 tibial revisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average interval between the first-stage resection and reimplantation was 4.4 months. Significant improvement was obtained with respect to visual analog scale pain and clinical and functional scores, and infection was eradicated in 95.6% of cases following a two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty. Radiographic evaluation showed suitable alignment without signs of mechanical loosening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique is a reasonable procedure to eradicate chronic infection in knee arthroplasty and provides proper functional and clinical results. However, it sometimes requires extensile surgical approaches that could imply arduous surgeries. Metallic augments with cementless stems available in most of the knee revision systems are a suitable alternative to handle bone deficiencies, avoiding the use of bone allografts with its complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinic Hospital of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Antonio.Silvestre@uv.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvestre
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Renovell
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morante
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012092:Replantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Chronically infected knee arthroplasty; Extensile approach; Metallic augments; Two-stage revision