EARLY PROSTHETIC JOINT INFECTION AFTER TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY

AimEarly prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a feared complication of hip arthroplasty. Debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) is attempted to avoid removal of the implant. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the success rate of DAIR in early PJI.MethodAll patients who were diagnosed with early PJI and treated with DAIR at our center from 2003 to 2013 were included in the study. During the time period, 5176 primary hip arthroplasties and 555 revision hip arthroplasties were performed. Early PJI was diagnosed in 54 patients (43 primary and 11 revisions). Median follow-up was 5.6 years (range 2.0–12.1). Standard postoperative antibiotic treatment at our centre is vancomycin and rifampicin.ResultsMedian patient age was 74 years and 29 patients were women. Mean C-reactive protein at time of diagnosis was 119 mg/L (range 4–546). In 41 patients the infection was eradicated with one DAIR median 17.6 days (range 5–44) after index surgery. Twelve patients underwent a second DA...