Staged Management of Infection with Adjustable Spacers After Megaprosthesis Implantation in Primary Sarcoma Patients.

Background: While periprosthetic joint infection has always been a significant concern for orthopaedic surgeons, the rate of infection is five to ten times higher after tumor prosthesis implantation. With the growing use of mega-implants, the number of these infections has also increased. We aimed to investigate the results of our patients with a primary malignant musculoskeletal tumor, who underwent two-stage revision surgery for an infected mega-prosthesis. We also presented the emerging complicatons and required soft tissue reconstruction procedures. Methods: The study included 32 primary bone and soft tissue sarcoma patients who underwent a two-stage revision procedure for infection. After a rigorous bone and soft tissue debridement procedure at the first stage, antibiotic-loaded bone cement was wrapped around a cloverleaf type intramedullary nail and inserted into the forming gap. After a minimum of 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy, depending on patients' clinical signs and serum infection markers, the reimplantation stage was undertaken. Results: The mean oncologic follow-up period was 28 months (range 5-96 months). During this period, 11 patients died because of non-infection related causes, 12 patients were alive with their disease, whereas 9 patients were totally free of their oncologic condition. The infection was eradicated in all survivors except one patient, where a high-level transfemoral amputation became necessary. Conclusion: Periprosthetic infection after tumor proshesis implantation in cancer patients can be managed with same principles as conventional arthroplaty procedures, taking care that they are immunocompromised and vulnerable patients and their bone stock loss is significant which makes surgical options more challenging.

One and a Half-Stage Revision With Prosthetic Articulating Spacer for Definitive Management of Knee Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

This paper is a comprehensive review that describes indications, contraindications, clinical outcomes, and pearls and pitfalls of 1.5-stage revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) utilizing a primary TKA femoral component, all-polyethylene tibial component, and hand-crafted antibiotic cement for the management of chronic periprosthetic joint infection. The 1.5-stage exchange TKA details placement of an articulating spacer for an indefinite period, prolonging revision until reinfection, deterioration of functional status, or construct failure. A 1.5-stage revision TKA technique is a viable option for treatment of chronic periprosthetic knee infections. The inherent advantages of decreased health-care costs, decreased morbidity and mortality, and improved emotional ease from having a single procedure is attractive, especially if reinfection rates are determined to be equivocal to 2-stage revision.

Higher reinfection rate after two-stage revision arthroplasty in patients with refractory diabetes mellitus: a retrospective analysis with a minimum ten-year follow up.

BACKGROUND: Treatment protocols for two-stage revision arthroplasty with diabetes mellitus (DM) have not yet been established. The control of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in two-stage revision arthroplasty is still debated. This study aimed to clarify the importance of preoperative HbA1c levels before each stage of revision arthroplasty and to analyze the risk factors for reinfection. METHODS: Five hundred eighty-eight patients suffered from first-time PJI and was treated in our institute from January 1994 to December 2010 were reviewed. The mean follow-up time was 13.8 (range, 10.2-24.8) years. Patients underwent two-stage revision arthroplasty with DM at presentation were included. The endpoint of the study was reinfection of the revision arthroplasty. Demographic, survivorship, and surgical variables were also analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients were identified and grouped by HbA1c level before the first stage surgery: Groups 1 and 2 had HbA1c levels < 7% and ≥ 7%, respectively. Reinfection was identified in 4.55% (2/44) and 18.18% (8/44) of the patients in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Survivorship analysis revealed correction of the HbA1c before the final stage of revision arthroplasty as an independent factor (p < 0.001). The identified risks for reinfection were HbA1c levels ≥ 7% before final-stage surgery, ≥ 3 stages of revision arthroplasty, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-Escherichia coli PJI. CONCLUSION: The HbA1c level before the final stage of revision arthroplasty could affect staged revision arthroplasty outcomes. Therefore, the necessity of postponing the elective final-stage revision arthroplasty procedure for HbA1c control should be further investigated in the future.

Cancellous allogenic and autologous bone grafting ensure comparable tunnel filling results in two-staged revision ACL surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with recurrent instability after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction often present with enlarged or misplaced tunnels and bone grafting is required prior to the actual revision reconstruction. Autologous bone grafting features limited quantity and donor site morbidity. These problems may be eliminated utilizing cancellous bone allografts, but their efficiency and reliability have not been investigated systematically. The aim of the present study was to compare tunnel filling rates attained by utilizing either allogenic or autologous cancellous bone grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 103 consecutive patients were enrolled retrospectively. All patients suffered from recurrent instability and underwent either allogenic or autologous cancellous bone grafting. Computed tomography (CT) was carried out before and after the bone grafting procedure. Based on preoperative CT scans, positioning and maximum diameter of the femoral and tibial tunnels were determined. Tunnel filling rates were calculated as a ratio of pre- and postoperative tunnel volumes. Primary outcome was the tibial tunnel filling rate. Femoral filling rates and density of the grafted bone were assessed secondarily. RESULTS: Preoperative CT scans revealed no significant differences between the two groups regarding distribution of misplacement and widening of the femoral or tibial tunnel. Postoperative CT scans were conducted after an interval of 5.2 months. Tunnel filling rates of 74.5% (± 14.3) femoral and 85.3% (± 10.3) tibial were achieved in the allogenic compared to 74.3% (± 15.9) femoral and 84.9% (± 9.4) tibial in the autologous group. With p values of 0.85 at the femur and 0.83 at the tibia, there were no significant differences between the groups. The density of the grafted bone revealed significantly higher values in the allogenic group. CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing cancellous bone allografts in two-staged revision ACL surgery provides for sufficient and reproducible filling of enlarged or misplaced tunnels. The filling rates are comparable to those achieved with autologous bone grafting. Advantages of allografts are the unrestricted quantity and the absence of any harvesting procedure.

A preliminary study of the novel antibiotic-loaded cement computer-aided design-articulating spacer for the treatment of periprosthetic knee infection.

BACKGROUND: In comparison to static spacers, articulating spacers have been shown to result in a similar infection eradication rate in two-stage revision of periprosthetic knee infections. However, the optimal construct for articulating spacers has not been identified yet. The aim of this study was to present a preliminary result of treatment for periprosthetic knee infection using a novel computer-aided design (CAD)-articulating spacer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 32 consecutive cases of chronic periprosthetic knee infection occurring from January 2015 to December 2015. In these cases, we used an antibiotic-loaded, optimized CAD-articulating spacer based on the retrieved knee prosthesis. Evaluation included infection eradication rate, the Hospital of Special Surgery (HSS) knee score, range of motion (ROM), and spacer-related mechanical complications. All cases were regularly followed-up for 2 years minimum. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 32 patients (87.5%) had infection eradication; 18 patients (56.3%) received reimplantation successfully. The mean interval between spacer insertion and reimplantation was 8.8 months (range 4.0-12.5 months). The mean HSS knee score and ROM significantly increased during each interval (p < 0.0001 for both). The mean HSS knee scores were 31.2 (range 20-48) at initial visit, 65.4 (range 60-78.8) at 1 month after spacer insertion, and 84.2 (range 78-90) at 3 months after reimplantation (p < 0.0001). The mean ROM were 72.0° (range 15-100°), 85.6° (range 35-110°), and 102.0° (range 80-122°), respectively (p = 0.002). Two (6.3%) spacer-related mechanical complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The CAD-articulating spacer in two-staged revision of periprosthetic knee infection significantly controlled infection, improved clinical outcomes, increased ROM, and decreased mechanical complications in the preliminary study. Further larger clinical studies are needed to confirm the findings presented here.

Failed Debridement and Implant Retention Does Not Compromise the Success of Subsequent Staged Revision in Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the leading cause of early revisions after total knee arthroplasty. Debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) procedures are often the initial treatment for PJI. However, there is concern that failed DAIR undermines the future success of revision procedures. This study aims to investigate the impact of DAIR on the success of subsequent staged revisions for PJI. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective review was performed over a 15-year period. Treatment success was defined as implant retention without the use of long-term suppressive antibiotics. This was compared between patients who underwent a staged revision as the first procedure for PJI (staged-only) and patients who failed DAIR before staged revision (F-DAIR). Competing risk survival analysis was performed to compare the 2 groups and considered for patient demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, organism type, body mass index, age of prosthesis, and duration of symptoms. RESULTS: Of 291 eligible patients, 63 underwent staged revision and 228 underwent DAIR as the first procedure for PJI. Of the 228 DAIR patients, 75 failed DAIR and underwent subsequent staged revision (F-DAIR). At mean follow-up of 6.2 years, the success rate was 72% in the F-DAIR group and 81% in the staged-only group. On survival analysis, there was no significant difference in subdistribution hazard ratio comparing the probability of failure (implant retention) in the 2 treatments groups (subdistribution hazard ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.32-1.61; P = .42). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that a previously failed DAIR does not compromise the success rate of a subsequent staged revision.

Risk Factors for Repeat Debridement, Spacer Retention, Amputation, Arthrodesis, and Mortality After Removal of an Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty With Spacer Placement.

BACKGROUND: Chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is most commonly addressed with a 2-stage exchange procedure. The purpose of this study is to examine the natural history of patients who have undergone prosthesis removal and spacer placement and evaluate risk factors for outcomes other than reimplantation. METHODS: Patients who underwent removal of an infected TKA and placement of an antibiotic spacer for PJI were identified in a Medicare database. Patients with a study outcome within 1 year were then identified: (1) in hospital mortality, (2) knee arthrodesis, (3) amputation, (4) repeat debridement procedure without reimplantation, and (5) reimplantation. Independent risk factors for these outcomes were evaluated with a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 18,533 patients were included. Within 1 year postoperatively, 691 patients (3.7%) died in a hospital setting, 852 patients (4.5%) underwent a knee arthrodesis, 574 patients (3.1%) underwent an amputation, 2683 patients (14.5%) underwent a repeat debridement procedure without being reimplanted, 2323 patients (12.5%) retained their spacer, and 11,420 patients (61.6%) underwent spacer removal and reimplantation within 1 year. Numerous independent patient-related risk factors for these outcomes were identified. CONCLUSION: A large number of patients (38.4%) do not undergo reimplantation within 1 year of prosthesis removal and spacer placement. Outcomes after prosthesis removal and antibiotic spacer placement are variable, and there are several independent risk factors for such outcomes that may be used to develop and improve existing treatment strategies for patients presenting with chronic PJI after TKA.

Staged Revision of Infected Hip Arthroplasty Using an Antibiotics-Loaded Intra-Articular Cement Spacer with Retention of the Stem

PURPOSE: When the femoral stem was well fixed in patients with a deep prosthetic hip infection, the authors performed a two-stage revision procedure using antibiotic-loaded cement spacers (ALCS) without removal of the stem, and the efficacy of this treatment was assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For 12 cases of infected hip arthroplasties, a two-stage procedure was performed, and the patients were followed up for over 2 years. After the acetabular component and head was removed, debridement was done. The molded ALCS was inserted. Revision was then performed after eradication of the infection. The results were analyzed, including the changes in the clinical manifestation, the radiologic findings, the laboratory results, the functional score and the complications. RESULTS: Of all 12 cases, the two-stage revision arthroplasty using an ALCS with retention of the stem was performed in 11 cases (92%), on an average of 66 days (range: 40~152 days). In the 11 revised cases, there was no evidence of recurrence of infection. In the 11 cases, the mean Harris hip score improved from 40.1 points preoperatively to 91.8 points at last the follow-up. The mean WOMAC score improved from 41.8 points preoperatively to 81 points at the last follow-up. The mean Harris hip score was 85.3 points and the WOMAC score was 72.4 points during the ALCS insertion-period. CONCLUSION: For the case of a perioprosthetic hip infection with a well-fixed femoral stem, two-staged revision using an ALCS without stem removal could be an alternative method in terms of effective infection control and preservation of the joint function.

Treatment of Candida Infection after TKA

PURPOSE: We wanted to review the clinical results of staged reimplantation in patients who had candidal infection after total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed five patients who had a candidal prosthetic knee infection, as was assessed by synovial fluid culture. Amphotericin B was intravenously administrated to all five patients during the postoperative period for six weeks and followed for at least twelve months. We carried out two-stage re-implantations with using antifungal agent-impregnated bone cement. Whether or not infection recurred was evaluated according to the symptoms and radiologic and hematologic studies. The clinical results were analyzed on the basis of the range of motion and hospital for special surgery (HSS) score. RESULTS: The final review showed that all of the symptoms disappeared. We could not find any loosening on the radiologic studies and all five patients had normal C-reactive protein values on serological exams. The mean postoperative range of motion was 1degrees (range: 0~5)~99degrees (range: 70~130) and the mean HSS score improved from 49.4 (range: 44~64) points to 73 (range: 65~90) after the re-implantation. CONCLUSION: We successfully controlled five candidal prosthetic knee infections by removing the components in conjunction with using an antifungal- impregnated bone cement and staged re-implantation after a 6 week course of intravenous antifungal drugs.