Rates of prosthetic joint infection in megaprostheses are high. The application of silver ion coating to implants serves as a deterrent to infection and biofilm formation.

A retrospective review was performed of all silver-coated MUTARS endoprosthetic reconstructions (SC-EPR) by a single Orthopaedic Oncology Surgeon. We examined the rate of component revision due to infection and the rate of infection successfully treated with antibiotic therapy. We reviewed overall revision rates, sub-categorised into the Henderson groupings for endoprosthesis modes of failure (Type 1 soft tissue failure, Type 2 aseptic loosening, Type 3 Structural failure, Type 4 Infection, Type 5 tumour progression).

283 silver-coated MUTARS endoprosthetic reconstructions were performed for 229 patients from October 2012 to July 2022. The average age at time of surgery was 58.9 years and 53% of our cohort were males. 154 (71.3%) patients underwent SC-EPR for oncological reconstruction and 32 (14.8%) for reconstruction for bone loss following prosthetic joint infection(s). Proximal femur SC-EPR (82) and distal femur (90) were the most common procedures. This cohort had an overall revision rate of 21.2% (60/283 cases). Component revisions were most commonly due to Type 4 infection (19 cases), Type 2 aseptic loosening/culture negative disease (15 cases), and Type 1 dislocation/soft tissue (12 cases).

Component revision rate for infection was 6.7% (19 cases). 15 underwent exchange of implants and 4 underwent transfemoral amputation due to recalcitrant infection and failure of soft tissue coverage. This equates to a limb salvage rate of 98.3%. The most common causative organisms remain staphylococcus species (47%) and polymicrobial infections (40%).

We expand on the existing literature advocating for the use of silver-coated endoprosthetic reconstructions. We provide insights from the vast experience of a single surgeon when addressing patients with oncological and bone loss-related complex reconstruction problems.