Abstract
Aim
Two stage revision is the most commonly used surgical treatment strategy for periprosthetic hip infections (PHI). The aim of our study was to assess the intra- and postoperative complications during and after two stage revision using resection arthroplasty between ex- and reimplantation.
Method
In this retrospective cohort study, all patients treated with a two stage revision using resection arthroplasty for PHI were included from 2008 to 2014. During the first stage, the prosthesis was removed resulting in a resection arthroplasty without the use a PMMA spacer. During second stage, (cemented or uncemented) reimplantation of the hip prosthesis was performed. The cohort was stratified into two groups according to the length of prosthesis-free interval (≤10 weeks and >10 weeks). Data on complications during explantation, prosthesis-free interval, reimplantation, and after reimplantation was collected. The overall complication rate between both groups was compared using the chi-squared test. The revision-free and infection-free survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
Results
Overall, 93 patients with hip PJI treated with two-stage revision performing resection arthroplasty were included, 49 had a prosthesis-free interval of ≤10 weeks, and 44 an interval of >10 weeks. A total of 146 complications was documented in the cohort. Patients were followed-up for a mean duration of 42.7 months, range: 13.1 – 104.6 months. Blood loss during reimplantation [n=25], blood loss during explantation [n=23], persistent infection during prosthesis-free interval [n=16], leg length discrepancy [n=13], and reinfection [n=9] were the most common complications. No complication showed a statistically significant difference between both groups except for wound healing disorder after reimplantation, which was more often reported in the group with > 10 weeks interval (p=0.009). A statistically significant increase of periprosthetic bone fractures (p=0.05), blood loss (p=0.039), and total number of complications (p=0.008) was seen with increasing acetabular bone defects (after Paprosky). Infection-free survival rate at 24 months was 93.9% (95% CI: 87.2 – 100) in the group with ≤10 weeks interval and 85.9% (95% CI: 75.4 – 96.4) with an interval of > 10weeks.
Conclusions
After two years of follow-up, the infection-free survival rate using resection arthroplasty during two stage revision for PHI was higher in the group with ≤10 weeks interval compared to the group with >10 weeks interval. The most common complications during and after a two stage revision using resection arthroplasty were blood loss during the two surgeries, persistent infection during the prosthesis-free interval, leg length discrepancy, and reinfection.
