Primary total arthroplasty for post-infectious hip and knee joint / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To elucidate the characteristics and treatment options of the primary joint arthroplasty in patients who had a previous history of the joint infection. Methods Eight total joint arthro-plasties in patients who had previous infection of the joint, were analyzed retrospectively from 1992 to 2001. The diagnosis of joint infection was pyogenic infection in six cases, and tuberculous infection in two cases. Total hip arthroplasty was performed in six cases, the average age of which was 38.1 years (24 to 51 years), and the average quiescent period of infection was 22 years ranging from 6 to 30 years. In these six cases, the average age of infection was 16 years (6 to 31 years); the quiescent period of all five pyogenic infections was more than 20 years, and the quiescent period of other one with tuberculous infection was six years. Total knee arthroplasty was performed in two cases. Results The count of WBC, ESR and CRP were examined routinely with normal values before surgery. While, there were no evidences of infection through intraopertive exploration, and bacterial culture of joint fluids and synovial tissue. The duration of follow-up was 2 to 11 years. The affected limbs had significant shortened deformity of 2 to 6 cm before surgery in hip infections. The hip joints had mal-development and flexion-contracture deformity. All of the patients had no active in-fection before arthroplasty. 5 patients with a quiescent period of pyogenic infection of more than 20 years had no recurrence of infection after total hip arthroplasty. One patient with a quiescent period of 6 months had recurrence of the infection after total knee arthroplasty. There were no recurrence of infection in 2 pa-tients who had tuberculous infection. The results were good except aseptic loosening in one total hip arthro-plasty. Conclusion The total joint replacement for patients with previous joint infection is more difficult in performing in one-stage and on younger patients. The good results can be achieved only on condition that the active infection healed completely, and the patients must keep a definite long period of quiescent time after infection.