Management of wounds of exposed or infected knee prostheses

Skin damage after total knee arthroplasty may jeopardise the functional benefit of the prosthesis. In such cases standard treatment is aimed at avoiding arthrodesis, sometimes replacing the implant and, in exceptional cases, amputation. In most cases early and adequate coverage of the soft tissue defect may make it possible to salvage the prosthesis. Ten patients with skin damage after total knee arthroplasty were treated by debridement of the wound, which was then covered with a pedicled gastrocnemius muscle flap. This was supported by local irrigation and systemic antibiotics. Seven patients were reviewed after a mean follow-up of 28 months (range 14-59). Six patients kept their prostheses and one had a relapse caused by infection at 22 months, which required removal of the prosthesis and secondary arthrodesis. The gastrocnemius muscle flap provides good quality coverage, permits early mobilisation and fast rehabilitation, and reduces the rate of arthrodesis after failure of total knee arthroplasty.