A retrospective case control study of all rehabilitated patients who suffered amputations of the lower extremity by sepsis was performed in the HELIOS centre of rehabilitation for amputees, Bad Berleburg, Germany.

This study examines patients who had undertaken an amputation of the lower extremity caused by severe sepsis and septic shock.

Methods: Case control study. The clinical reports of 448 patients with amputations of the lower extremity clinically rehabilitated from 2010 to 2013 were systematically and statistically evaluated. Sepsis is classified in 4 categories: SIRS, sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock.

Epidemiology: The mean age of the amputees was 61.33 years, with 25 men and 11 women. Marital status: 16 patients are married (44.44%), 7 divorced, 5 widowed, 7 unmarried, 1 unknown. 24 patients are retired (66.67%). School-leaving qualifications: 22 elementary school (61.11%), 8 secondary school, 1 high school, 5 unknown. Health insurance: AOK 10 patients (27.77%), BEK 7 patients (19.44%), pension insurance 9 patients (25.0%). The medial time of hospitalization in the clinic for rehabilitation of the amputated patients suffering sepsis was 27.23 days.

Results: 36 patients, – 8.03 % of all – with 39 amputations, suffered a loss of the lower extremity caused by severe sepsis and septic shock: 1 patient suffered an exarticulation of both hips, 20 patients suffered a transfemoral amputation (1 patient had a transfemoral amputation of both legs), 17 patients lost their leg by transtibial amputation (1 patient had a transtibial amputation of both legs). 13 patients presented a sepsis by MRSA (multiresistant Staph. aureus 36.11%), 8 patients with MSSA (multisensible Staph. aureus), 4 patients with multiresistant Acinetobacter (8.33%), 2 patients with MRSE (multiresistant Staph. epidermidis), 13 patients with other multiresistant germs (36.11%) such as Streptococcus B, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacteriaceae, Klebsiella.

Mobility class of amputees at the beginning of hospitalization: class 0 (= non walkers) all 36 patients (100%). Mobility class of amputees at the end of hospitalization: class 0 (= non walkers) are 5 patients (27.78%), class 1 (= only inside walkers) are 5 patients (13.89%), class 2 (= inside and little outside walkers) are 18 patients (50.00%), class 3 (= inside and good outside walkers) are 3 patients (8.33%).

Amputation of the lower extremity following severe sepsis and septic shock is not rare – in our group we found more than 8%.

Noting a decreasing number of transfemoral amputations following infection of Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) I studied a case of a patient which suffered an amputation following infection of TKA by MRSA. With assistance of all hospitals and the NHS it was able to classify all costs of this poor case.

This study exposes a drama of a person which received a Total Knee Arthroplasty in the right knee at 66.0 years. 2 weeks after the implantation of TKA she presented a wound secretion, the microbiology shows: MRSA, Pseudomonas aeroguinos and Streptococcus. 4 surgical revisions followed without removing the TKA. 35 month later, with 68.9 years it was indispensable to remove the TKA in a 6th operation, implanting a spacer with Vancomycine. 1 month later removing of the spacer and implanting a second cemented TKA in the 7th surgery. With 70.2 years the removal of the second TKA was necessary because of infection with Pseudomonas aeroguinosa and Morganelli morganii. Now implantation of another spacer with Vancomycine. 1 month later with 70.3 years removal of the spacer molding an arthrodesis of the knee using an intramedullary femur to tibia rod. After that 4 revision surgeries with changing the intramedullary rod some wound revisions followed, ending in the 23rd operation with a transfemoral amputation with 71.1 years – 5 years after primary TKA. 3 month after transfemoral amputation the patient presented high temperature and a secretion of the scarf of the TT-stump; microbiology: MRSA. 2 more surgeries are necessary to stop the infection.

This patient suffered over all 25 surgical procedures in 5.5 years. The hospitalization for acute infection of TKA led to 431 days in different hospitals in 33 months. Statement of charges from the hospitals € 74.046,92 in the last three years before amputation. Payments by the health insurance € 155.424,00 for all procedures. We will demonstrate the different costs of hospital procedures and distribution for the insurance for all performances.

Observing a decreasing number of transfemoral amputations following infection of Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) we performed a retrospective case control study of all rehabilitated amputees in the HELIOS centre of rehabilitation for amputees, located in Bad Berleburg, Germany.

This study examines all patients who had undertaken a transfemoral amputation (TF) after infection of TKA since 2007.

Methods: retrospective case control study. The clinical reports of 355 patients with transfemoral amputation rehabilitated from 2007 to 2013 were systematically and statistically evaluated. In this period we rehabilitate 636 amputees.

Results: 9 patients – 2.53% of all TF-amputations suffered a loss of the lower extremity caused by an infection of TKA. 3 patients presented an infection only by MRSA (multiresistant Staph. aureus 33.33%), 2 patients only with MSSA (multisensible Staph. aureus); other 4 patients presented mixed infections with MRSE (multiresistant Staph. epidermidis), multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii, E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeroguinosa.

Epidemiology: The mean age of the patients at time of amputation was 70.07 years, with 4 men and 5 women. Marital status: 6 patients are married (66.66%), 1 divorced, 1 widowed, 1 unmarried. All patients are retired. School-leaving qualifications: 7 elementary school (60.87%), 1 secondary school, 1 unknown. Health insurance: AOK 3 patients (33.33%), BKK 3 patients (33.33%), employers insurance 1 patients (11.11%) and 2 more patients. The medial time of hospitalization in the clinic for rehabilitation after suffering amputation because of infection of TKA was 29.22 days.

Mobility class of amputees at the beginning of hospitalization: class 0 (= non walkers) all 9 patients (100%). Mobility class of amputees at the end of hospitalization: class 0 (= non walkers) are 2 patients (22.22%), class 1 (= walking only inside) are 5 patients (55.55%), class 2 (= walking inside and a little outside) are 2 patients (22.22%), class 3 (= walking well inside and outside) no patient.

This retrospective case control study shows for the first time that amputation of the lower extremity following infection in TKA is rare – in our group we found 2.53%. In the national and international literature one does not find much research about transfemoral amputations caused by infection in TKA. In our clinic we notice a decreasing number.

This study examines the case of a spondylodiscitis in the thoracic spine caused by MRSA which led to two orthopaedic surgeries followed by rehabilitation.

A 72.6 year old woman suffered a cutaneous infection with herpes zoster on the right dorsal thorax – 2 weeks later she presented a sepsis by MSSA. 2 month later she lamented sever pain in the thoracic column. She were hospitalized presenting a sepsis by MRSA. One month later it was found an infectious spondylodiscitis from thoracic vertebra T 8 to T 11 with destruction of the intervertebral spaces. To eliminate the infection and stabilize the dorsal column she was undertaken an first orthopaedic surgery by dorsal decompression and dorsal spondylodesis from T 6 – L 2; intraoperative microbiology: MRSA. 3 month later she was undertaken a second surgery by a lateral transthoracic decompression and intervertebral stabilization from T 9 – T 10 with tricortical bone chips and inlay of sponge with Calcibon and Gentamycin. The following rehabilitation took her to a reasonable result. The cost of the first treatment with dorsal stabilization was € 17.694,24, the second surgery was € 13.678,88; the cost of both rehabilitations was € 4.160,00. The finally costs for the whole treatment for the insurance was € 47,442,62.

This retrospective case report shows the high costs for a treatment of spondylodiscitis caused by MRSA, not taking in consideration the harm and prolonged pain of the patient.