A Clinical Study of Deep Infection after Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty

Kim, In Kwon; Kim, Keun Woo; Park, Jong Hu; Kim, Ha Yong

Abstract

Deep infection following total hip replacement arthroplasties remains one of the most serious complications in orthopaedic surgery. Between Jan. 1986 to Dec. 1991, 1130 cementless total hip arthroplasties were performed at Wilson rehabilitation hospital. Among them, fourteen patients (incidence :1.2%) developed deep wound infection, and they were retrospectively reviewed including clinical features, laboratory datas and their managements. The infection was noted in ten patients within three months, in one patient between three to twelve months and in three patients after twelve months from cementless total hip replacement arthroplasties. All of them were suffered from hip pain, six patients were manifested with generalized fever, and twelve patients with draining fistulas. Thirteen patients showed elevated ESR. Major infecting organism was Staphylococcus in ten patients. They were initially treated with meticulous debridement, ingress and eress tube irrigation, and antibiotics, but four patients had to be operated Girdlestone arthroplasties due to recurrence of infection and loosening of the prosthesis. Eight patients got quiescency from infection for at least five months from the last drainage operation. But two patients still have draining fistulas inspite of bony ingrowth achieved to the prosthesis.