Abstract
We investigated the infections after implant arthroplasty. There are three types of implant arthroplasty including total hip arthroplasty (THA), bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
The patients having infection after THA or BHA included nine cases-four men and five women. The primary diseases were four cases of osteoarthritis of the hip, three cases of femoral neck fracture and two cases of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur. The patients having infection after TKA included eight cases-five men and three women. The primary diseases were six cases of osteoarthritis of the knee and two cases of rheumatoid arthritis.
The period between primary operation and onset was longer in the case of infection after THA or BHA than in infection after TKA. Infection after THA or BHA had many risk factors for infection in comparison with infection after TKA because the knee joint exits the superficial layer and has many opportunities to inject into the joint, we believe.
We performed the operative therapy in the infection after THA or BHA with continuous irrigation in six cases, insertion to the cement spacer with antibiotics in four cases and insertion to AW glass ceramic with antibiotics in one case. In all cases we performed the removal of implants and re-operation in one case. In the infection after TKA case we performed the operative therapy, with continuous irrigation was in five cases and insertion to the cement spacer with antibiotics in two cases. In four cases we performed the removal of implants and in all cases the infection was controlled.
In the therapy for infection after implant arthroplasty, we had to understand and to control the risk factors for infection.
