A Two-stage Retention Debridement Protocol for Acute Periprosthetic Joint Infections

Background Due to the historically poor infection control rates with debridement and component retention for acute periprosthetic infections we developed a new approach for treating acute periprosthetic total joint infections: initial debridement with prosthesis retention and placement of antibiotic-impregnated cement beads followed by a second debridement within 7 days, at which time the beads are removed and new modular parts inserted. Intravenous antibiotics were used for 6 weeks followed by oral antibiotics. Depending on the clinical situation, antibiotics are discontinued or in selected patients continued indefinitely. Questions/purposes We determined the ability of this two-stage debridement to control infection. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 20 patients who underwent this technique; 2 had postoperative and 18 had hematogenous infections. The primary outcome measure was the infection control. The minimum followup was 1 year (mean, 3.5 years; range, 1.2-7.5 years). Results Two of the 20 patients had persistent infection. There were no failures in the acute postoperative group (0 of 2) and two of 18 in the acute hematogenous group. Of the 18 patients without evidence of persistent infection, 10 were no longer on antibiotics at the most recent followup and eight were treated with long-term antibiotics due to compromised host status. Conclusions The control of infection in 18 of 20 patients using this technique compares favorably with historical success rates, which range from 24% to 100%. Further research is required to analyze the individual contribution of debridement technique, the use of serial debridements, local depot antibiotics, and combination antibiotic therapy on short-term infection control rates and the long-term persistent control of periprosthetic infection. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of level of evidence.