Treatment of Prosthetic Joint Infections

Prosthetic joint replacement is one of the most successful surgical procedures of the last century and the number of implanted artificial joints is rapidly growing. While the result of the procedure is generally positive, infections may occur leading to patient suffering, surgeon's frustration and important costs to the health system. Infection after prosthetic joint replacement is thus a feared complication as healing rates can be low, functional result poor and satisfaction of the patient abysmal. However, if a patient-adapted treatment of infected total joints is used, an overall success rate of above 90 % can be obtained. The patient-adapted treatment concept is based on five strong pillars: teamwork, understanding biofilm, proper diagnostics, proper definition and classification and patient-tailored treatment.

Patient-adapted treatment for prosthetic hip joint infection.

Hip joint replacement is 1 of the most successful surgical procedures of the last century and the number of replacements implanted is steadily growing. An infected hip arthroplasty is a disaster, it leads to patient suffering, surgeon's frustration and significant costs to the health system. The treatment of an infected hip replacement is challenging, healing rates can be low, functional results poor with decreased patient satisfaction. However, if a patient-adapted treatment of infected hip joints is used a success rate of above 90% can be obtained.Patient-adapted treatment is based on 5 important concepts: teamwork; understanding the biofilm; diagnostic accuracy; correct definition and classification of PJI; and patient-tailored treatment.This review presents a patient-adapted treatment strategy to prosthetic hip infection. It incorporates the best aspects of the single and staged surgical strategies and promotes the short interval philosophy for the 2-stage approach.