Treatment of an old infection in a total hip replacement with an interim spacer prosthesis

Mechanical complications of hip spacers: a systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Temporary spacers used in the staged revision of a hip prosthetic joint infection (PJI) have been associated with several mechanical complications with very variable reported general complications rates up to 73%. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the mechanical complications associated with hip antibiotic-loaded spacers when treating periprosthetic hip PJI.

METHODS

Through an electronic systematic search of PubMed, articles reporting mechanical complications of spacers used in the treatment of hip PJI were reviewed. Dislocations, spacer fracture, femoral fractures, and acetabular lysis rates were evaluated.

RESULTS

Forty studies were included. Standardized molded spacers had a significantly higher weighted mean of total mechanical complication rates (37.2%) when compared to standardized preformed spacers (13.8%, p = 0.039), while no significant difference was found between molded spacers and manually shaped spacers. Spacer dislocation was the most frequent complication. No significant difference in mechanical complication rate was found between spacers with and without any metallic component.

CONCLUSIONS

Spacer placement in chronic PJI of the hip with bone and soft-tissue defects is challenging and bears a high risk of mechanical failures and progressive bone loss during the interim period. A careful patient selection for spacer implantation is mandatory.

A protocol for staged arthroplasty to salvage infected nonunion of hip fractures

Background

Nonunion of hip fractures is not uncommon. Total hip arthroplasty is used to salvage cases of non union or secondary arthritis in these fractures. However, this option may not be available or may be difficult to achieve when infection has superseded the site of nonunion. The objective of this prospective study was to assess if a staged protocol of treatment yields good results in these difficult cases.

Materials and methods

Twenty-seven consecutive patients who had deep hip infection with failed treatment of hip fractures (intracapsular in 16 cases and extracapsular in 11) were treated between June 2007 and September 2011. Twenty-six completed the planned two-stage hip arthroplasty and one case was lost after the first stage. The average age of the patients was 48.9 years (range 26–74 years) with an average follow up period of 44 months (30–72 months). Analysis was done using the paired t test where P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Infection was controlled in all cases that completed the treatment protocol with no recurrence in all cases at the latest follow up. The Harris hip score of the patients improved significantly from 29 preoperatively to 85 at the latest follow up (P < 0.0001). Two patients had hip dislocation with displacement of the trochanteric fragment while three other patients had fibrous union of the trochanter.

Conclusions

Staged Arthroplasty procedure to salvage infected non-union of hip fractures is successful in eradicating infection and regaining hip function.

Level of evidence IV.

Outcome of total hip arthroplasty as a salvage procedure for failed infected internal fixation of hip fractures

BACKGROUND

Failed infected internal fixation produces significant pain and functional disability. In infected internal fixation of hip fractures with partial or complete head destruction, total hip arthroplasty (THA) can be technically challenging; however, it restores hip biomechanics. The present study is to evaluate the results and assess the complications of THA following failed infected internal fixation of these fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of prospectively collected data in a tertiary healthcare center was performed of 20 consecutive patients of THA following failed infected internal fixation operated between September 2001 and November 2007. There were 11 dynamic hip screw failures for intertrochanteric fractures, 6 failed osteotomies following transcervical fractures, and 3 failed screw fixations for transcervical fractures.

RESULTS

The average age of the patients was 48.5 years (range 28-70 years) and the average followup period was 6.5 years (range 3.5-10.5 years). An indigenously designed cement spacer was used in a majority of patients (n = 15). The custom-made antibiotic impregnated cement spacer was prepared on-table, with the help of a K-nail bent at 130°, long stem Austin Moore's prosthesis (n=1), Charnley's prosthesis (n=1), or bent Rush nail (n=1). The antibiotic mixed cement was coated over the hardware in its doughy phase and appropriately shaped using an asepto syringe or an indigenously prepared spacer template. Nineteen of the 20 patients underwent two-stage revision surgeries. The average Harris hip score improved from 35.3 preoperatively to 82.85 postoperatively at the last followup. A significant difference was found (P < 0.0001). None of the patients had recurrence of infection.

CONCLUSIONS

The results were comparable to primary arthroplasty in femoral neck fractures. Thus, THA is a useful salvage procedure for failed infected internal fixation of hip fractures.

Prospective study of the treatment of infected hip arthroplasties with or without the use of an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer

PURPOSE

Our purpose was to compare 2 methods of treatment of chronic infection in hip arthroplasties--with or without an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer.

METHODS

In a prospective study, we treated 68 infected hip arthroplasties with discharging sinuses and bone loss, comparing 30 patients treated in 2 stages without the use of a spacer (control group) and 38 patients treated with a vancomycin-loaded spacer (study group). The average follow-up was 4 years (2-8.5 years). One patient died of unrelated causes 4 months after first-stage surgery and was excluded from the study.

RESULTS

The 2-stage surgery without spacer controlled the infection in 66.7% of patients, and the 2-stage surgery using the spacer controlled it in 89.1% (P < 0.05). At last follow-up, the average Harris Hip Score increased from 19.3 to 69.0 in the control group versus 19.7 to 75.2 in the study group (P > 0.05). The average leg length discrepancy was 2.6 cm in the control group and 1.5 cm in the study group (P < 0.05). The patients treated with a spacer had better clinical results (81.5% of patients with good results against 60.0% for the control group).

CONCLUSION

The use of an antibiotic-loaded spacer in the 2-stage treatment of infected hip arthroplasties provides better infection control with good functional results and is superior to treatment in 2 stages without a spacer.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, Level I-1.

Antibiotic-impregnated PMMA hip spacers: Current status

The infection rate after primary hip arthroplasty lies at 1-2%. In the past few years, a two-stage protocol with the implantation of an antibiotic-loaded spacer has become a popular procedure in the treatment of infected hip joint arthroplasties. In this review, we pay special attention to the elution characteristics of the spacers, their mechanical stability and the clinical response. We conclude that hip spacers are an effective method in the treatment of hip joint infections, with success rates of over 90%.

Treatment of deep infection of the hip associated with massive bone loss: two-stage revision with an antibiotic-loaded interim cement prosthesis followed by reconstruction with allograft

We have carried out in 24 patients, a two-stage revision arthroplasty of the hip for infection with massive bone loss. We used a custom-made, antibiotic-loaded cement prosthesis as an interim spacer. Fifteen patients had acetabular deficiencies, eight had segmental femoral bone loss and one had a combined defect. There was no recurrence of infection at a mean follow-up of 4.2 years (2 to 7). A total of 21 patients remained mobile in the interim period. The mean Merle D'Aubigné and Postel hip score improved from 7.3 points before operation to 13.2 between stages and to 15.8 at the final follow-up. The allograft appeared to have incorporated into the host bone in all patients. Complications included two fractures and one dislocation of the cement prosthesis. The use of a temporary spacer maintains the function of the joint between stages even when there is extensive loss of bone. Allograft used in revision surgery after septic conditions restores bone stock without the risk of recurrent infection.

Two-stage revision hip arthroplasty for infection with a custom-made, antibiotic-loaded, cement prosthesis as an interim spacer

BACKGROUND

Two-stage reconstruction is a well-recognized treatment for deep infection of hip joint implants. The purpose of the study was to report the results of our treatment using a standardized protocol.

METHODS

Forty-two consecutive patients with deep infection of the hip prosthesis were treated according to a prospective, two-stage resection/reimplantation protocol. Between stages, a custom-made, antibiotic-loaded, cement prosthesis was implanted as an interim spacer.

RESULTS

Infection was eradicated in 41 patients after the first-stage operation. Thirty-six patients remained with the ability to walk with the interim cement pros-thesis. For 40 patients who underwent reimplantation, recurrence of infection was observed in only 1 patient at an average of 55.2 months' follow-up.

CONCLUSION

We have found that our two-stage treatment protocol is a reliable approach for the management of infected hip prostheses. It is effective for eradicating infection and for providing a mobile and functional joint through the treatment course.

Preformed acrylic bone cement spacer loaded with antibiotics: use of two-stage procedure in 10 patients because of infected hips after total replacement

In 10 patients having deep infection after total hip replacement, we used a two-stage revision procedure involving implantation of a preformed spacer with a cylindrical rod coated with acrylic cement containing antibiotics (Spacer-G). This device, which remained in situ for an average of 5 months, permitted healing of the infection in 8 cases and reimplantation of a new prosthesis (mean follow-up 35 months). During treatment, 1 dislocation occurred. The spacer maintained the gap between both bone segments and allowed a certain degree of joint mobility. Use of Spacer-G improved the quality of life of the patients during treatment and accelerated recovery of function after reimplantation.