Use of antibiotic-impregnated hydroxyapatite for infection following total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES

Antibiotic-impregnated hydroxyapatite (HA) is an emerging drug delivery system for the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the knee. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of this treatment in patients with PJI following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

Participants comprised 14 consecutive patients with PJI of the knee who were scheduled to undergo two-stage knee revision. In the first stage, all components were removed with thorough debridement, and antibiotic-impregnated HA was inserted in the bone and joint space. In the second stage, revision TKA was performed after the eradication of infection. The mean period from the removal of all components and treatment with antibiotic-impregnated HA to revision TKA was 3.4 months. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed after a mean follow-up of 6.1 years following revision TKA. Predictors of reinfection were evaluated.

RESULTS

Eleven patients had no recurrent infection, whereas 3 patients showed recurrent infection. Knee Society knee score and function score, as well as flexion angles, improved significantly postoperatively. No knees showed osteolysis or loosening after revision TKA. The present study identified no predictors of reinfection.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotic-impregnated HA could be effective in treating knee PJI.