We aimed to assess the efficacy of applying a two-stage primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with an antibiotic-laden cement spacer block to treat infected osteoarthritic knees.
This retrospective study included 17 cases of severely infected osteoarthritic knees treated with two-stage primary TKA. Open debridement and irrigation with insertion of a well-designed antibiotic cement spacer was performed as the first stage. Systemic antibiotics were used in the interval period. Two-stage TKAs were performed after elimination of infection. The pre- and post-operative Hospital for Special Surgery Knee (HSS) score as well as range of motion (ROM) were assessed.
Elimination of infection was achieved in 16 patients. C-reactive protein returned to normal levels in an average of 3.4 wks (range, 1-7 wks), whereas erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) recovered in an average of 11.4 wks (range, 6-19 wks). The average interval between the two-stage operations was 16.8 wks (range, 10-27 wks). Compared with the pre-operative level, the mean HSS score had a substantial increase after the first-stage and second-stage surgery (p<0.05). The post-operative maximum extension degree was smaller and the maximum flexion and ROM degree were larger than the pre-operative degree (all p<0.05). There were no recurrent infections and no patients lost to follow-up. One patient chose to receive arthrodesis because of uncontrolled infection after numerous operations and treatments.
Two-stage TKA with open debridement, irrigation, and insertion of a well-designed antibiotic-laden cement spacer at the first stage could provide effective pain relief and function restoration as well as infection control in the interval. This treatment protocol provided an encouraging final clinical outcome, which could be a reliable alternative for patients with infected osteoarthritic knees.