ROLE OF BACTERIAL COLONIZATION OF SPACERS IN TWO-STAGE ARTHROPLASTY REVISION SURGERY

Aim In two-stage replacements for septic loosening, some studies have suggested that associate bacterial colonization of spacers had a worse result in relation to the control of the infection and a higher rate of complications after the implantation of the definitive prosthesis. The aim of our study was to determine the reoperation rate of patients undergoing two-stage revision surgery according to the results of spacer sonication. Method A retrospective observational study was conducted in which 56 hip or knee spacers implanted at our center from 2010 to 2017 were analysed. Patients were grouped into three categories: Patients with positive spacer sonication fluid culture, with or without positive cultures from the rest of the samples. Patients with negative spacer sonication culture and negative second-stage intraoperative cultures. Patients with negative spacer sonication culture but positive cultures of the rest of intraoperative samples. Results Of the 56 patients analysed, 11 were included in group ...