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Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 101-B, Issue SUPP_12 | Pages 58 - 58
1 Oct 2019
Mirick GM Sabin A Hansen G Lindgren B Aparicio C Carlson CS Bue M Larsen O Schmidt AH Kyle R Gustilo RB Tsukayama D Bechtold JE
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Introduction

We studied free (= local powder) tobramycin and doxycycline, and controlled release (= local lipid bilayer) doxycycline formulations in a rat model representing a generic joint infection. We hypothesized that evidence of infection (quantitative colony forming units (CFU), qualitative SEM, histopathology) (1a) would be reduced with local vs. systemic antibiotic, (1b) any antibiotic would be superior to control (2) there would be a difference among antibiotics, and (3) antibiotic would not be detectable in serum at 4-week euthanasia.

Methods

Study groups included infected and non-infected (1) control, (2) systemic ceftriaxone (daily), (3) local tobramycin, (4) local doxycycline and (5) controlled release doxycycline. With IACUC approval, (10 rats/group; power =0.8), 50-μl, 10×4 CFU Staphylococcus aureus, slowly injecting into distal femoral medullary canal, reliably created joint infection. Antibiotic formulation was introduced locally into cavity and joint, pin was inserted, and tissues closed. After 4-weeks, serum, pin, bone and synovium were obtained. CFU/ml of bone and synovium were quantified using macrotiter method. SEM imaged biofilm on surface of pin, histopathology identified tissue response, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry measured plasma antibiotic. Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA compared groups.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 104-B, Issue SUPP_4 | Pages 8 - 8
1 Apr 2022
Petrie M Al-Einzy M Panchani S Partridge D Harrison T Stockley I
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The duration of systemic antibiotics following first-stage surgery is contentious. Our Institution's philosophy is to perform an aggressive debridement, high concentration of targeted antibiotics through cement beads and systemic prophylactic antibiotics alone. In the presence of significant soft tissue infection or microbiological diagnostic uncertainty; systemic antibiotics may be prescribed for 5 days whilst awaiting tissue culture results. The aim of this study was to assess the success of our philosophy for two-stage hip revision. A retrospective review of our Institution's prospective database was performed to identify all intended two-stage hip revision procedures for PJI. All patients had a confirmed PJI as per MSIS 2013 criteria, minimum 5-years follow up and outcomes according to the MSIS working group outcome-reporting tool; then grouped into “successful” or “unsuccessful” (suppressive antibiotics, further revision for infection, death within 1 year). 383 intended two-stage hip revisions were identified; of which 299 met our inclusion criteria, in 289 patients (6 repeat ipsilateral two-stage, 4 bilateral two-stage). Median follow up was 10.7 years (IQR 6.3 – 15.0). 258 (86%) patients proceeded to 2. nd. stage surgery. 91% success rate was observed for those patients who underwent reimplantation, although dropping to 86% when including the patients who did not proceed to second stage. The median duration of post-operative systemic antibiotics was 5 days (IQR 5–9). No significant difference was observed in patients who received either; < / = 48 hours (86%; n=70) compared to > 48 hours antibiotics (86%; n=229; p=0.96) or </= 5 days of antibiotics (88%; n=202) compared to > 5 days antibiotics (82%; p=0.38). A significant majority had gram-positive (88%) infection with 30% being polymicrobial. Greater success rates were observed with two-stage exchange or gram-positive PJI (86%); than for gram-negative PJI (81%) and polymicrobial infection (74%) (p=0.36). Fungal PJI was observed to have a significantly reduced rate of success (n=3; 33%; p=0.03). Aggressive surgical debridement with high concentration, targeted local antibiotic delivery at time of first stage to manage PJI of the hip provides a high rate of success, responsible antibiotic stewardship and reduced hospital costs


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 7 | Pages 867 - 874
1 Jul 2022
Ji B Li G Zhang X Xu B Wang Y Chen Y Cao L

Aims

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) with prior multiple failed surgery for reinfection represent a huge challenge for surgeons because of poor vascular supply and biofilm formation. This study aims to determine the results of single-stage revision using intra-articular antibiotic infusion in treating this condition.

Methods

A retrospective analysis included 78 PJI patients (29 hips; 49 knees) who had undergone multiple prior surgical interventions. Our cohort was treated with single-stage revision using a supplementary intra-articular antibiotic infusion. Of these 78 patients, 59 had undergone more than two prior failed debridement and implant retentions, 12 patients had a failed arthroplasty resection, three hips had previously undergone failed two-stage revision, and four had a failed one-stage revision before their single-stage revision. Previous failure was defined as infection recurrence requiring surgical intervention. Besides intravenous pathogen-sensitive agents, an intra-articular infusion of vancomycin, imipenem, or voriconazole was performed postoperatively. The antibiotic solution was soaked into the joint for 24 hours for a mean of 16 days (12 to 21), then extracted before next injection. Recurrence of infection and clinical outcomes were evaluated.


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 100-B, Issue SUPP_9 | Pages 36 - 36
1 May 2018
Jain S Magra M Dube B Veysi V Whitwell G Aderinto J Emerton M Stone M Pandit H
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Introduction. Reverse hybrid total hip replacement (THR) offers significant theoretical benefits but is uncommonly used. Our primary objective was to evaluate implant survival with all cause revision and revision for aseptic loosening of either component as endpoints. Patients/Materials & Methods. Data was collected prospectively on 1, 088 (988 patients) consecutive reverse hybrid THRs. Mean patient age was 69.3 years (range, 21–94) and mean follow-up was 8.2 years (range, 5–11.3). No patients were lost to follow-up. Overall, 194 (17.8%) procedures were performed in patients under 60 years, 666 (61.1%) were performed in female patients and 349 (32.1%) were performed by a trainee. Acetabular components were ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene in 415 (38.1%) hips, highly cross-linked polyethylene in 669 (61.5%) hips and vitamin E stabilised polyethylene in 4 (0.4%) hips. Femoral stems were collared in 757 (69.7%) hips and collarless in 331 (30.3%) hips. Femoral head sizes were 28 mm in 957 (87.9%) hips and 32 mm in 131 (12.1%) hips. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan Meier methodology. Log rank tests were used to asses differences in survival by age, gender, head size and surgeon grade. Results. Ten-year implant survival (122 hips at risk) was 97.2% (95% CI 95.8–98.1%) for all cause revision (Figure 1), 100% for aseptic acetabular loosening and 99.6% (95% CI 99.0–99.9%) for aseptic stem loosening (Figure 2). There was no difference in implant survival by age (p = 0.39), gender (p = 0.68), head size (p = 0.76) or surgeon grade (p = 0.20) for all cause revision. There was no difference in survival by gender (p = 0.12), head size (p = 0.38) or surgeon grade (p = 0.76) for stem revision. Four (0.4%) stems failed at mean 2.5 years (range, 0.6–4.8) because they were undersized. These were associated with patient age under 60 years (p = 0.015). Discussion. This is the largest reported study on the outcomes of reverse hybrid THR in a consecutive series of patients at medium to long term follow-up. Cemented acetabular components are less costly than uncemented cups and offer other significant benefits such as improved fixation in osteoporotic or pathological bone, reduced risk of intraoperative periprosthetic fracture, easier revision and local antibiotic delivery which can reduce deep infection rates. Advantages of uncemented stems over cemented stems include biological fixation, shorter operating times, fewer adverse pulmonary events and reduced proximal stress shielding. Our results indicate high implant survival rates at ten-year follow-up with low rates of aseptic loosening (0.4%). Meticulous surgical technique is required to avoid stem undersizing which may lead to early failure particularly in younger patients. Conclusion. This study confirms that reverse hybrid THR offers highly successful outcomes, irrespective of age, gender, head size and surgeon grade. For any figures and tables, please contact the authors directly


Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 98-B, Issue SUPP_11 | Pages 34 - 34
1 Jun 2016
Magill P Blaney J Hill J Beverland D
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Introduction. The results of cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) vary with data from the UK national Joint Registry being less favourable than that from the Australian registry. The senior author started using a fully cementless THA in 2005 and we aimed to gauge the performance of the implants based on their revision data. Patients and methods. Between August 2005 and March 2015, 4,802 primary THA (4,309 patients) were performed with a cementless Corail. ®. stem and a cementless Pinnacle. ®. cup. There were 2,086 (43.4%) males and 2,716 (56.6%) females with a median age of 70 years (IQR 13, Range 16–95). There were a number of changes to the surgical technique with respect to the Corail. ®. stem during the ten-year period, which we have categorised as phase 1 and phase 2. We compared the data in the two phases. Data were extracted from a prospectively maintained patient information database. Results. A total of 80 (1.67%) revisions have been performed to date (median follow-up 65.9 months, IQR 46.8, Range 0 to 121), which is equivalent to a cumulative revision risk of 2.5% at ten years. Revision rate was not significantly different in those less than 70 years old (1.63%) compared to those greater than or equal to 70 years old (1.76%, P=0.81). The leading causes of revision were instability (n=22, 0.46%), infection (n=20, 0.42%) and aseptic loosening of the stem (n=15, 0.31%). More collarless stems than collared stems have been revised. Phase 2 changes in surgical technique resulted in cessation of collarless stem use, a small but significant increase in mean stem size, and a paradoxical decrease in iatrogenic femoral fracture. Conclusions. The overall revision rates of the Corail. ®. stem and Pinnacle. ®. cup in this series are comparable to the best performing THA in equivalent registry data. Instability was the leading cause of revision but these data did not identify a causative factor. The changes in infection rate in this series are possibly influenced by changes in local antibiotic prophylaxis policy. There is a learning curve for the cementless stem as seen here by a reduction in revisions for aseptic loosening and iatrogenic femoral fracture during the ten-year period. We believe that collared stems, avoidance of undersizing and surgical technique focusing on primary stability are the key aspects


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 3 | Pages 368 - 375
1 Mar 2022
Kuijpers MFL Colo E Schmitz MWJL Hannink G Rijnen WHC Schreurs BW

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of all primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs) and their subsequent revision procedures in patients aged under 50 years performed at our institution.

Methods

All 1,049 primary THAs which were undertaken in 860 patients aged under 50 years between 1988 and 2018 in our tertiary care institution were included. We used cemented implants in both primary and revision surgery. Impaction bone grafting was used in patients with acetabular or femoral bone defects. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to determine the survival of primary and revision THA with the endpoint of revision for any reason, and of revision for aseptic loosening.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 2 | Pages 212 - 220
1 Feb 2022
Fishley WG Selvaratnam V Whitehouse SL Kassam AM Petheram TG

Aims

Femoral cement-in-cement revision is a well described technique to reduce morbidity and complications in hip revision surgery. Traditional techniques for septic revision of hip arthroplasty necessitate removal of all bone cement from the femur. In our two centres, we have been using a cement-in-cement technique, leaving the distal femoral bone cement in selected patients for septic hip revision surgery, both for single and the first of two-stage revision procedures. A prerequisite for adoption of this technique is that the surgeon considers the cement mantle to be intimately fixed to bone without an intervening membrane between cement and host bone. We aim to report our experience for this technique.

Methods

We have analyzed patients undergoing this cement-in-cement technique for femoral revision in infection, and present a consecutive series of 89 patients. Follow-up was undertaken at a mean of 56.5 months (24.0 to 134.7) for the surviving cases.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 104-B, Issue 1 | Pages 27 - 33
1 Jan 2022
Liechti EF Neufeld ME Soto F Linke P Busch S Gehrke T Citak M

Aims

One-stage exchange for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is gaining popularity. The outcome for a repeat one-stage revision THA after a failed one-stage exchange for infection remains unknown. The aim of this study was to report the infection-free and all-cause revision-free survival of repeat one-stage exchange, and to investigate the association between the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) staging system and further infection-related failure.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all repeat one-stage revision THAs performed after failed one-stage exchange THA for infection between January 2008 and December 2016. The final cohort included 32 patients. The mean follow-up after repeat one-stage exchange was 5.3 years (1.2 to 13.0). The patients with a further infection-related failure and/or all-cause revision were reported, and Kaplan-Meier survival for these endpoints determined. Patients were categorized according to the MSIS system, and its association with further infection was analyzed.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 103-B, Issue 7 | Pages 1247 - 1253
1 Jul 2021
Slullitel PA Oñativia JI Zanotti G Comba F Piccaluga F Buttaro MA

Aims

There is a paucity of long-term studies analyzing risk factors for failure after single-stage revision for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total hip arthroplasty (THA). We report the mid- to long-term septic and non-septic failure rate of single-stage revision for PJI after THA.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 88 cases which met the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria for PJI. Mean follow-up was seven years (1 to 14). Septic failure was diagnosed with a Delphi-based consensus definition. Any reoperation for mechanical causes in the absence of evidence of infection was considered as non-septic failure. A competing risk regression model was used to evaluate factors associated with septic and non-septic failures. A Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to analyze mortality.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 101-B, Issue 4 | Pages 396 - 402
1 Apr 2019
Ji B Wahafu T Li G Zhang X Wang Y Momin M Cao L

Aims

Single-stage revision is not widely pursued due to restrictive inclusion criteria. In this study, we evaluated the results of single-stage revision of chronically infected total hip arthroplasty (THA) using broad inclusion criteria and cementless implants.

Patients and Methods

Between 2010 and 2016, 126 patients underwent routine single-stage revision with cementless reconstruction with powdered vancomycin or imipenem poured into the medullary cavity and re-implantation of cementless components. For patients with a culture-negative hip, fungal infections, and multidrug-resistant organisms, a direct intra-articular infusion of pathogen-sensitive antibiotics was performed postoperatively. Recurrence of infection and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Three patients died and 12 patients (none with known recurrent infection) were lost to follow-up. There were 111 remaining patients (60 male, 51 female) with a mean age of 58.7 (sd 12.7; 20 to 79).


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 100-B, Issue 8 | Pages 1010 - 1017
1 Aug 2018
Jain S Magra M Dube B Veysi VT Whitwell GS Aderinto JB Emerton ME Stone MH Pandit HG

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate implant survival of reverse hybrid total hip arthroplasty (THA) at medium-term follow-up.

Patients and Methods

A consecutive series of 1082 THAs in 982 patients with mean follow-up of 7.9 years (5 to 11.3) is presented. Mean age was 69.2 years (21 to 94). Of these, 194 (17.9%) were in patients under 60 years, 663 (61.3%) in female patients and 348 (32.2%) performed by a trainee. Head size was 28 mm in 953 hips (88.1%) or 32 mm in 129 hips (11.9%). Survival analysis was performed and subgroups compared using log rank tests.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 98-B, Issue 1_Supple_A | Pages 54 - 59
1 Jan 2016
González Della Valle A Sharrock N Barlow M Caceres L Go G Salvati EA

We describe our technique and rationale using hybrid fixation for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Modern uncemented acetabular components have few screw holes, or no holes, polished inner surfaces, improved locking mechanisms, and maximised thickness and shell-liner conformity. Uncemented sockets can be combined with highly cross-linked polyethylene liners, which have demonstrated very low wear and osteolysis rates after ten to 15 years of implantation. The results of cement fixation with a smooth or polished surface finished stem have been excellent, virtually eliminating complications seen with cementless fixation like peri-operative femoral fractures and thigh pain. Although mid-term results of modern cementless stems are encouraging, the long-term data do not show reduced revision rates for cementless stems compared with cemented smooth stems. In this paper we review the conduct of a hybrid THA, with emphasis on pre-operative planning, surgical technique, hypotensive epidural anaesthesia, and intra-operative physiology.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B(1 Suppl A):54–9.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 90-B, Issue 12 | Pages 1580 - 1584
1 Dec 2008
Winkler H Stoiber A Kaudela K Winter F Menschik F

Infection of a total hip replacement (THR) requires component removal and thorough local debridement. Usually, long-term antibiotic treatment in conjunction with a two-stage revision is required. This may take several months. One-stage revision using antibiotic-loaded cement has not gained widespread use, although the clinical and economic advantages are obvious. Allograft bone may be impregnated with high levels of antibiotics, and in revision of infected THR, act as a carrier providing a sustained high local concentration.

We performed 37 one-stage revision of infected THRs, without the use of cement. There were three hips which required further revision because of recurrent infection, the remaining 34 hips (92%) stayed free from infection and stable at a mean follow-up of 4.4 years (2 to 8). No adverse effects were identified. Incorporation of bone graft was comparable with unimpregnated grafts.

Antibiotic-impregnated allograft bone may enable reconstruction of bone stock, insertion of an uncemented implant and control of infection in a single operation in revision THR for infection.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 91-B, Issue 1 | Pages 44 - 51
1 Jan 2009
Whittaker JP Warren RE Jones RS Gregson PA

When using a staged approach to eradicate chronic infection after total hip replacement, systemic delivery of antibiotics after the first stage is often employed for an extended period of typically six weeks together with the use of an in situ antibiotic-eluting polymethylmethacrylate interval spacer. We report our multi-surgeon experience of 43 consecutive patients (44 hips) who received systemic vancomycin for two weeks in combination with a vancomycin- and gentamicin-eluting spacer system in the course of a two-stage revision procedure for deep infection with a median follow-up of 49 months (25 to 83).

The antibiotic-eluting articulating spacers fractured in six hips (13.9%) and dislocated in five patients (11.6%). Successful elimination of the infecting organisms occurred in 38 (92.7%) of 41 hips with three patients developing superinfection with a new organism.

We conclude that prolonged systemic antibiotic therapy may not be essential in the two-stage treatment of a total hip replacement for Gram-positive infection, provided that a high concentration of antibiotics is delivered locally using an antibiotic-eluting system.


The Bone & Joint Journal
Vol. 96-B, Issue 10 | Pages 1312 - 1318
1 Oct 2014
Ibrahim MS Raja S Khan MA Haddad FS

We report the five year outcomes of a two-stage approach for infected total hip replacement. This is a single-surgeon experience at a tertiary centre where the more straightforward cases are treated using single-stage exchange. This study highlights the vital role of the multidisciplinary team in managing these cases.

A total of 125 patients (51 male, 74 female) with a mean age of 68 years (42 to 78) were reviewed prospectively. Functional status was assessed using the Harris hip score (HHS). The mean HHS improved from 38 (6 to 78.5) pre-operatively to 81.2 (33 to 98) post-operatively. Staphylococcus species were isolated in 85 patients (68%).

The rate of control of infection was 96% at five years. In all, 19 patients died during the period of the study. This represented a one year mortality of 0.8% and an overall mortality of 15.2% at five years. No patients were lost to follow-up.

We report excellent control of infection in a series of complex patients and infections using a two-stage revision protocol supported by a multidisciplinary approach. The reason for the high rate of mortality in these patients is not known.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1312–18


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 87-B, Issue 3 | Pages 314 - 319
1 Mar 2005
Buttaro MA Pusso R Piccaluga F

Bone allografts can store and release high levels of vancomycin. We present our results of a two-stage treatment for infected hip arthroplasty with acetabular and femoral impaction grafting using vancomycin-loaded allografts. We treated 29 patients (30 hips) by removal of the implants, meticulous debridement, parenteral antibiotic therapy and second-stage reconstruction using vancomycin-supplemented impacted bone allografts and a standard cemented Charnley femoral component. The mean follow-up was 32.4 months (24 to 60). Infection control was obtained in 29 cases (re-infection rate of 3.3%; 95% confidence interval 0.08 to 17) without evidence of progressive radiolucent lines, demarcation or graft resorption. One patient had a further infection ten months after revision caused by a different pathogen. Associated post-operative complications were one traumatic periprosthetic fracture at 14 months, a single dislocation in two hips and four displacements of the greater trochanter. Vancomycin-supplemented allografts restored bone stock and provided sound fixation with a low incidence of further infection.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 91-B, Issue 11 | Pages 1431 - 1437
1 Nov 2009
Biring GS Kostamo T Garbuz DS Masri BA Duncan CP

We report the outcome at ten to 15 years of two-stage revision for hip infection in 99 patients using the Prostalac articulated hip spacer system.

All the patients were contacted to determine their current functional and infection status using the Oxford-12, Short form-12, and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index questionnaires. A total of 11 of the 99 patients had a further infection, of whom seven responded to repeat surgery with no further sequelae. The mean interval between the stages was five months (1 to 36). We were able to review 48 living patients, with a mean age of 72 years (46 to 86), 34 (71%) of whom provided health-related quality-of-life outcome scores.

The mean follow-up was 12 years (10 to 15). The long-term success rate was 89% and with additional surgery this rose to 96%. The mean global Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index score was 80.6 (sd 18.3). The mean Oxford-12 score was 74.0 (sd 22.3), and the mean Short form-12 score was 53.1 (sd 9.4) (mental) and 33.5 (sd 13.5) (physical). The mean satisfaction score was 90.5 (sd 15.3).

Two-stage revision for hip infection using a Prostalac interim spacer offers a predictable and lasting solution for patients with this difficult problem.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 91-B, Issue 1 | Pages 24 - 30
1 Jan 2009
Landor I Vavrik P Jahoda D Pokorny D Tawa A Sosna A

Migration of the acetabular component may give rise to oval-shaped bone defects in the acetabulum. The oblong implant is designed to fill these defects and achieve a stable cementless anchorage with no significant bone loss. We prospectively reviewed 133 oblong long oblique revision components at a mean follow-up of 9.74 years (0.6 to 14). All had been used in revisions for defects of type IIB to IIIB according to Paprosky. Aseptic loosening was the reason for revision in 11 cases (8.3%) and deep infection in seven (5.3%). The probability of implant survival over a 12-year follow-up estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method gave a survival rate of 0.85% respectively 0.90% when deep infection was excluded as the endpoint.

Our study supports the use of these components in defects from IIB to IIIA. The main precondition for success is direct contact of more than half of the surface of the implant with the host acetabular bone.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 90-B, Issue 2 | Pages 145 - 148
1 Feb 2008
Stockley I Mockford BJ Hoad-Reddick A Norman P

We present a series of 114 patients with microbiologically-proven chronically-infected total hip replacement, treated between 1991 and 2004 by a two-stage exchange procedure with antibiotic-loaded cement, but without the use of a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy. The mean follow-up for all patients was 74 months (2 to 175) with all surviving patients having a minimum follow-up of two years. Infection was successfully eradicated in 100 patients (87.7%), a rate which is similar to that reported by others, but where prolonged adjuvant antibiotic therapy has been used. Using the technique described, a prolonged course of systemic antibiotics does not appear to be essential and the high cost of the administration of antibiotics can be avoided.


The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume
Vol. 90-B, Issue 3 | Pages 292 - 298
1 Mar 2008
Walls RJ Roche SJ O’Rourke A McCabe JP

We have analysed the management and clinical outcome of a series of consecutive patients who had a total hip replacement and developed post-operative surgical site infection (SSI) with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The incidence of this infection was 1% over a period of five years. We studied SSI in 15 patients (16 infections) with a mean age of 72.7 years (53 to 81). In all, 12 of the infections occurred early and half of the infections involved the prosthesis, resulting in an increase of 11-fold in the cumulative hospital stay.

Methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus was successfully eradicated in all the patients after a mean follow-up of 53.6 months (25 to 88). Superficial incisional infections resolved after antibiotic therapy alone while deep infections required multiple operative debridements. Attempted retention of the implant in early organ space infections was successful in only one of five patients. Only three patients with implant-level infections obtained a pain-free, functional prosthesis while a further three required excision arthroplasty. We have formulated a protocol of treatment which may serve as a guide in the management of these infections.