Treatment Options for Orthopedic Device-related Infections

Though uncommon, prosthetic joint infections are a devastating complication of total joint replacement surgeries and are a cause of significant morbidity. Although complete removal of all foreign material followed by a prolonged course of directed antibiotic therapy is the optimal treatment for such infections, many factors, such as patient health, cost, available bone stock, and timing of infection influence the type of treatment that is chosen. We review the different treatment options for prosthetic joint infections, including surgical modalities and antibiotic choice, duration, and suppression.