Infection after total knee replacement: diagnosis and treatment

Infection after total knee replacement (IATJ) is a rare complication. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality increasing the final costs. Gram positive coccus and Staphylococcus coagulase-negative and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common isolated germs (>50% of the cases). Co...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lucio Honorio de Carvalho Junior, Eduardo Frois Temponi, Roger Badet
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia 2013-09-01
Series:Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-36162013000500389&lng=en&tlng=en
Description
Summary:Infection after total knee replacement (IATJ) is a rare complication. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality increasing the final costs. Gram positive coccus and Staphylococcus coagulase-negative and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common isolated germs (>50% of the cases). Conditions related to the patient, to the surgical procedure and even to the post op have been identified as risk factors to IATJ. Many complementary methods together with clinical symptoms are useful to a proper diagnosis. Treatment for IATJ must be individualized but generally is a combination of systemic antibiotic therapy and surgical treatment. Prosthesis exchange in one or two stages is the first choice procedure. Debridement with prosthesis retention is an option in acute cases with stable implants and antibiotic sensible germs.
ISSN:1982-4378