Abstract
Introduction: Nowadays, the use of antibiotic-impregnated cement in revision total knee arthroplasty procedures is widespread, and a substantial body of evidence demonstrates its efficacy in deep infection prevention
Nevertheless, it is not clear that it is necessary or desirable as a routine means in primary total knee arthroplasty.
Some European studies demonstrate that the use of antibiotic-impregnated cement, shows to be effective in the prevention of early to intermediate deep infection following primary total knee artrhoplasty
Material and Methods: A retrospective review of 642 primary total knee arthroplasties (Legacy-Zimmer) was made between 2003–2006
Two groups were established:
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A group of 296 patients with a primary total knee arthroplasty cemented without impregnated antibiotic.
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In the second group of 346 patients a primary total knee arthroplasty was performed with the use of gentamycin-impregnated antibiotic in all cases.
The mean follow up was 12 months.
We analyze the differences in the infection rate between the two groups, within the first year of follow-up
Results: No significant differences were found between groups in terms of demographic variables, surgical procedure duration, tourniquet time, postoperative blood transfusion index or medical complications.
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10 postoperative deep infections were found in the antibiotic non-impregnated cement group (3.3% of infection)
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3 postoperative deep infections were found in the antibiotic-impregnated cement group (0.09% of infection)
A comparative analysis was performed which showed to be statistically significant.
Conclusions: Gentamycin-impregnated cement shows statistically significant effectiveness in the prevention of early to intermediate deep infection following primary total knee artrhoplasty
Correspondence should be addressed to Vienna Medical Academy, Alser Strasse 4, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Phone: +43 1 4051383 0, Fax: +43 1 4078274, Email: ebjis2009@medacad.org
