Abstract
Purpose
Two-stage revision with the removal of all prosthesis has been considered to be the gold standard for treatment of periprosthetic joint infection. However, removal of well-fixed femoral stem is technically challenging and may cause excessive bone loss. The aim of this study was to compare the results between retention and removal of femoral stem when performing two-stage revision total hip arthroplasty for periprosthetic joint infection.
Materials & Methods
From 2007 to 2014, ninety-four patients with infection after hip arthroplasty were treated by using two-stage exchange protocol with temporary articulating spacers. Among them, 38 patients completed the planned second stage reimplantation. Stem was exchanged in 15 patients (group I) and retained in 23 patients (group II). We retrospectively investigated the clinical and radiographic results after an average 39.9 months follow up
Results
The rate of infection control was 86.6% (13/15) in group I, 86.9% (20/23) in group II. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in term of demographics or presence of resistant organism
Conclusion
Retention of well-fixed cementless stem during two-stage revision total hip arthroplasty could be alternative treatment option for the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection.
