Background: In the present study, the characteristics and mid-term to long-term outcomes of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) associated infections treated with different types of approaches were evaluated.
Methods: A retrospective study of the results of 71 infected TKA treated between August 1993 and August 2005. The data included medical records, gender, periprosthetic infection (PPI) classification, patients’ comorbidities, PPI diagnostic criteria, microbiology and histopathology results, surgical and antimicrobial therapy, treatment modality, complications, follow up, and treatment results.
Results: Median age was 70 years (range 43–88). Median follow-up 5.8 years (range 2–12). Thirty-three patients had multiple risk-factors for PPI. The main pathogens isolated were Coagulase-negative staphylococci 26 (37%), Staphylococcus aureus 16 (22.4%).
The treatment methods of TKA infection was two-stage exchange in 59 (83%), debridement and retention −5 (7.2%), arthrodesis −5 (7.2%), excision arthroplasty 2 (2.8%). At final followup, 17 knees (24%) had required reoperation: 10 knees (14%) -component removal for reinfection. Two knees were reinfected 3 times, three knees – two times. The median time to first reoperation for reinfection was 1.2 years (range, 0.04–2.5 years). By Kaplan-Meier survival analysis the estimated survivals free of reoperation for infection were 90.5% (confidence intervals, 85.3–96.1%) at 5 years and 82% (confidence intervals, 70.3–94.5%) at 10 years. The Knee Society scores: Pain scores, Functional scores, ROM improved.
Conclusions: TKA infections treatment is a difficult task leading to a high rate of unsatisfactory mid-term and long-term results. About one forth of patient require reoperation, 14% become reinfected in first 2.5 years. Half of reinfected patients get reinfected repeatedly. In most cases patients are reinfected with the same micro-organism but more virulent. TKA infection treatment option should be chosen according to the type of infection (acute or chronic), the duration of infection, the stability of the implant, the type of microorganism causing infection, bone quality and integrity, and the quality of the soft-tissue.
