Wound problems in total knee arthroplasty

Effects of increased surgical volume on total knee arthroplasty complications

The effect of increased total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgical volume on the incidence of knee complications within a single surgeon's practice was determined. Data were collected prospectively on 600 primary TKAs. Major complications required knee reoperation. Minor complications were wound concerns requiring increased surveillance or oral antibiotics. Twelve major (2.0%) and 40 minor (6.7%) complications occurred at minimum 2-year follow-up. Surgical volume increased from 57 to 150 procedures per 6 months through the course of the study. Multivariate analysis determined that increased surgical volume was associated with lower rates of both major and minor complications, adjusted odds ratio 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-0.96) and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.43-0.73), respectively. For each additional 50 procedures performed within a 6-month interval, major complications were reduced by 38% (P = .03), and minor complications were reduced by 44% (P < .0001). All complications were significantly decreased when the surgeon was performing 112 +/- 44 TKAs compared with 85 +/- 49 TKAs per 6-month interval.

Procrastination of wound drainage and malnutrition affect the outcome of joint arthroplasty

The association between wound drainage and subsequent periprosthetic infection is well known. However, the most appropriate treatment of wound drainage is not well understood. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 10,325 patients (11,785 procedures), among whom 300 patients (2.9%) developed persistent (greater than 48 hours postoperatively) wound drainage. Wound drainage stopped spontaneously between 2 and 4 days in 217 patients treated with local wound care and oral antibiotics. The remaining 83 patients (28%) underwent further surgery. A single débridement resulted in cessation of drainage without subsequent infection in 63 of 83 patients (76%), whereas 20 (24%) patients continued to drain and underwent additional treatment (repeat débridement, resection arthroplasty, or long-term antibiotics). Timing of surgery and the presence of malnutrition predicted failure of the first débridement. There were no differences between the success and failure groups with regard to all other examined parameters, including demographic or surgical factors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, prognostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

A motion maintaining antibiotic delivery system

Two-stage radical debridement with implant removal, antibiotic therapy, and delayed reimplantation remains the treatment of choice for deep infection in total joint arthroplasty. Studies have shown that articulating vs static spacers better improve functional results, increase patient satisfaction, prevent bone loss, and facilitate reimplantation without increasing risk of infection. Articulating spacers fabricated from cement provide a vehicle for prolonged local delivery of antibiotics. We currently use a mold system for creating antibiotic-laden articulating cement spacers. Disposable femoral and tibial molds are injection-filled with low-viscosity cement vacuum mixed with 3.6 to 4.8 g of tobramycin or gentamicin and 3.0 to 4.0 g of vancomycin per 40-g unit and massaged to fill any voids. After curing, the temporary spacers are removed from the molds, trimmed smooth, and cemented loosely into the joint space.