In this study we aimed to identify infection rates in arhroplasty patients which were operated bilaterally with single anesthesia and to discuss the reasons of infections in these patients.

We evaluated 163 knees of 82 patients (Follow up: 12 to 60 months). Mean age was 66.8. Right knees were operated first followed by left knees. 16 of the patients had diabetes mellitus, 4 of them had rheumatoid arthritis, and 1 of them had systemic lupus erithmatosus. All patients were evaluated according to operation time, wound healing, laboratory findings, clinical presentation and X rays. We had 7 infections (6 deep, 1 superficial infection). When we evaluate operation times, no statistically significant difference was obtained between the infected knees and non infected knees (p=0,275). Two of the infected knees had urinary track infection and dental abscess after the opertaion. Five of seven infected knees were left sided. Six of the infected knees were treated with debridement irrigation and antibiotics successfully. But one had two staged revision.

Bilaterally operated knee arthroplasty increases operation time significantly. This increase of operation time decreases the sterility of surgical field, and may increase infection rates. The increased infection rates in left sided knees may explain this. Postoperative dental and urinary tract infections may also increase infection rates. There is no correlation between infection and other systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erithematosus or rheumatoid arthritis