Several orthopaedic operations are encumbered with a high risk of infection. Early detection of such complication is of utmost importance for achieving good results.

From 1990 to 1998 a prospective study was done in 104 orthopaedic patients, who had a higher risk for postoperative infections. Diagnoses had been chronic osteomyelitis (47 cases), bone transplantation after osteomyelitis (19 cases), malignant bone tumors receiving chemotherapy (16 cases) and revision alloarthroplasty (22 cases). Consecutive levels of leucocytes in the wound drainages (deep and subcutaneus), white blood cell count (WBC) and c-reactive proteine (CRP) were analyzed.

Seventeen patients (septic group) were reoperated for suspected infection. The culture discount revealed Staphylococcus aureus (7 cases), Staphylococcus epidermidis (5 cases), Streptococcus hemoliticus (1 case), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (1 case), Enterococcus fae-calis (1 case), mixed organisms (2 cases), and histological signs of infection (4 cases). Comparing the aseptic and septic group no difference was noted for WBC < 2 days (p = 0.39), 2–3 days (p = 0.18), 3–6 days (p = 0.44) and > 6 days (p = 0.46). CRP difference was noted on the fourth day: mean 7.6 +− 0.8 mg/dl (range 6.0 to 9) (septic group); mean 5.9 +− 1.2 mg/dl (range 3.2 to 8.4) (aseptic group) (p < 0.001). The deep drainage leucocytes demonstrated to 12 hours: mean 5636 +− 2134 (range 2400 to 11200) (septic group) and mean 8531 +− 3312 (range 3100 to 18200) (aseptic group) (p < 0.001). 36 to 48 hours: the values changed adversely. 48 to 72 hours: mean 9146 +− 3666 (range 4700 to 16200) (septic group) and mean 2393 +− 879 (range 1100 to 4100) (aseptic group) (p < 0.001). The subcutaneus drainage leucoytes were 1.5 to 1.9 times higher (aseptic group) and 0.13 to 1.03 times lower (septic group) compared to the deep drainage.

We recommend deep drainage leucocytes monitoring 48 to 72 hours after the operation. Values greater 4100 (upper range of aseptic control) are suspicious and over 9146 (mean value of septic group) are strongly associated with an underlying wound infection.

For local antibiotic therapy gentamycin is in clinical use since many years, originally in the form of PMMA beads, later also in the form of resorbable collagen fleece. A prospective study comparing the efficacy of both application forms so far is missing.

In a prospective study 108 patients with chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis were treated by a standardised operative debridement protocol. The debrided cavities were filled with 54 patients (group 1) were treated by local antibiotic beads (Septopal) and 54 patients (group 2) by local resorbable antibiotic fleece (Sulmycin). Both groups were comparable concerning age, location, duration of operation, type of osteomyelitis and predisposing factors. The mean follow-up was 6.1 years (range 3.8 – 9.3). Evaluation was done for the re-operation rate, CRP and ESR, white blood cells and local wound healing criteria.

Twenty-six patients (44 per cent) underwent one or more revision operations because of persistent infection.

In group I 67 per cent and in group II 20 per cent (p = 0.0001). No difference was noted for CRP (p = 0.46), ESR (p = 0.09), white blood cells (p = 0.24) and local wound healing criteria (p =0.34).

After local gentamycin fleece application the early re-operation rate is significantly lower compared to gentamycin beads. After a treatment period of 3 month this difference disappears.

Objective: Clinical and radiological comparison of unconstrained and constrained knee endoprostheses in revision total knee arthroplasty after septic or aseptic loosening in consideration of quality of life, activity and patella related problems.

Material and methods: 26 patients with 10 hinge pros-theses and 16 condylar prostheses were examined using the following scores: HSS, Knee Society Score, Visual Analogueue Scale, Tegner Activity Score, Patella Score, SF-36-helth questionaire. Before implantation all hinge endoprostheses were septic and all condylar endopros-theses aseptic. For radiological examination the Knee Society and Engh Score were used.

Results: There were no significant deviations in clinical parameters between the types of prostheses resp. septic or aseptic history. Radiological parameters deviated significantly in only one parameter: the femoral defects in hinge prostheses were significantly larger (p=0.0036). Regarding at patients with hinge prostheses compared with healthy subjects of the same age deviated significantly only in limitations in physical activities because of health problems, limitations in usual role activities because of physical health problems and bodily pain. In the group of condy-lar endoprostheses there were significant deviations for all items except vitality and general mental health.

Conclusion: The choice of condylar or hinged endopros-theses does not have any significant influence on clinical results, neither has aseptic or septic history. The quality of life results of condylar prostheses were inferior.