[Musculoskeletal infections in the era of multiresistant pathogens]

Investigation of Risk Factors for Pain Chronification in Patients Suffering from Infections of the Spine

Background: Spinal infections represent a therapeutic challenge. The often protracted course of the disease is accompanied by pain, which can lead to a chronic pain experience even after the infectious disease has been treated successfully. The aim of this study was to investigate possible risk factors of pain chronification. Methods: In a prospective study, 14 patients with spinal infections were examined at admission (T1), at discharge from inpatient therapy (T2), and three to eight months postoperatively (T3) byquestionnaires on risk factors for pain chronification and by quantitative sensory testing (QST). Results: In-patient treatment lasted on average 45.3 days (±33.13). The patients complained of pain for 3.43 months (±2.77) prior to inpatient treatment. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain (0–10) and the Oswestry Disability Index detected significant improvement in the course of the study. However, patients also reported catastrophic thinking, as well as fear of movement and (re)-injury. Conclusion: In summary, our results demonstrate that patients with spinal infections did not suffer from pain chronification, but might benefit from an interdisciplinary therapeutic approach, which emphasizes promoting active pain-coping strategies, as well as addressing fear of movement and catastrophic thinking.

[Infected knee prostheses. Part 2: chronic late infections]

OBJECTIVE

Treatment of late and chronic infections, which require the replacement of all the infected implant material.

INDICATIONS

All infections lasting more than 4 weeks that have been proven to be bacterial and/or obvious signs of infection.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Unsuitable for anesthesia, high acute infection with sepsis and risk for bacteremia with danger to life, large soft tissue damage where plastic surgery coverage is not possible.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Arthrotomy, synovectomy, removal of all foreign bodies including all residue of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), jet lavage, spacer, drainage, wound closure or temporary closure using vacuum sealing.

POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

Bed rest with a leg brace and drainage until daily drainage volume is <50 ml, then mobilization with no weight-bearing in an orthesis, 4 weeks systemic antibiotics, after 2 weeks without antibiotics aspiration of the joint, when no bacteria are found reimplantation of a revision TKA (total knee arthroplasty) and with plastic surgery for coverage (gastrognemius flap) if necessary, when bacteria are found again revision with exchange of the spacer.

RESULTS

In the literature, the success rate for both the one-stage or the two-stage procedure is about 80-95%. In our very nonhomogeneous collective the overall rate of success is about 81%.