[Mid-term effectiveness of two-stage hip prosthesis revision in treatment of infection after hip arthroplasty].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the mid-term effectiveness of two-stage hip prosthesis revision in the treatment of infection after hip arthroplasty.

METHODS

Between April 2002 and November 2006, 12 cases of infection after hip arthroplasty were treated. There were 5 males and 7 females, aged from 47 to 72 years (mean, 59.8 years). The femoral head arthroplasty was performed in 2 cases and total hip arthroplasty in 10 cases. Infection occurred 1 to 67 months after arthroplasty. According to the Segawa classification criteria, infections included type 2 in 1 case, type 3 in 2 cases, and type 4 in 9 cases. The preoperative Harris score was 36.7 +/- 6.1. Nine cases had elevated C reactive protein and 10 cases had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The results of bacterial culture were positive in 8 cases and negative in 4 cases. After the removal of the infected prosthesis and thorough debridement, antibiotic-loaded cement spacers or infected therapeutic temporary prosthesis were used as placeholders, and then the anti-infection treatments were given after operations; two-stage hip prosthesis revisions were performed 3 to 10 months after debridement.

RESULTS

In 1 patient who failed to control infection after debridement, infection was controlled after the second debridement and the antibiotic-loaded cement spacer as placeholder. Other patients achieved healing of incision by first intention, and no complication such as deep venous thrombosis and nerve injury occurred. All patients were followed up 3 to 8 years after revision (mean, 5.4 years). During the follow-up, no infection recurrence and joint dislocation occurred. Dull pain was present in 2 cases during activity and mild claudication in 3 cases at last follow-up. The Harris score was 81.6 +/- 4.5, showing significant difference (t = 52.696, P = 0.000) when compared with preoperative score. The X-ray films showed that no prosthesis loosening and obvious subsidence were observed, and bone graft healed.

CONCLUSION

The two-stage hip prosthesis revision has good infection control rate and mid-term effectiveness in treatment of infection after hip arthroplasty.