Method

21 patients with infected hip arthroplasties were operated in the form of one or two-staged revision hip arthroplasties. A frozen section was obtained intra-operatively and >5 PMN's/ HPF was considered as a positive indicator of infection. Fig 1 llustrating frozen section image. If the frozen section was reported negative (≤5 PMN's/HPF), the revision prosthesis was implanted after a thorough debridement and a wash. If the frozen section was reported as positive, after the debridement a non-articulating antibiotic loaded cement spacer was implanted for 8 weeks, supplemented with 3 weeks of intravenous antibiotics and 3 weeks of oral antibiotics. This was followed by an antibiotic free interval of 2 weeks. The patient was taken up for a revision surgery once the frozen section study was negative (≤5 PMN's/HPF). The patients were followed up for minimum of 1 year to a maximum of 2 years after the revision for any evidence of infection (assessed clinically and serologically, radiologically).