Abstract
Introduction
Two-stage revision surgery remains the gold standard as treatment for periprosthetic hip infections. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of infection eradication after two-stage revision hip arthroplasty in patients treated with intraoperatively surgeon-molded articulating spacers as well as to foreshadow the future economical impact of these articulating antibiotic spacers to those commercially available.
Methods
Thirty-five patients who underwent two-stage revision hip arthroplasty due to chronic periprosthetic infection between 2003–2014 were followed clinically and radiographically an average of 4.9 years postoperatively [2.2–9.2]. 17 male and 18 female patients with a mean age of 62 [34–82] had articulating spacers, made in the operating room, inserted at the first stage. [The overall expense of the custom-made antibiotic spacers and the commercially available spacers was calculated and compared using a student t test.]
Results
Thirty-one patients (91%) had no clinical or radiographic signs of infection at the time of most recent follow-up. There were no periprosthetic femur fractures and two (6.0%) had a dislocation of hip spacer prior to the second stage surgery. After reimplantation, three patients (9.0%) suffered dislocations of the prosthetic hip, with one of those patients undergoing a second dislocation of the previously reduced hip. [The antibiotic articulating hip spacer manufactured intraoperatively cost $2,712 as compared to commercially available injectable molds $4,619 (p<0.05) and prefabricated spacers $3,820 (p<0.05).]
Conclusions
Patients treated using intraoperatively molded articulating spacers had similar infection eradication rates and outcomes compared to previously reported commercially available articulating spacers1. In the era of cost containment and surgical bundles, surgeon-made articulating spacers should be considered in the first stage of periprosthetic infections. The adjustment in treatment could equate to a national savings of over $12 million annually.
