[Osteomyelitis after endoprostheses]

Today over 170,000 total hip arthroplasties and about 70,000 total knee arthroplasties are performed in Germany. An overall infection rate of 0.5-1.4% is reported in the literature. This means that 800-1700 infections after total hip arthroplasty and 300-850 infections after total knee arthroplasty can occur. The surgical treatment of early or late infections after arthroplasty of the hip or knee needs different intervention. Depending on when the infection develops, a simple Débridement, an allinone exchange arthroplasty, or the explantation of the endoprosthesis with implantation of a spacer followed by the reimplantation of a new prosthesis must be performed. The first hint of postoperative infection is the increase of the C-reactive protein. By correct treatment of the postoperative wound the first sign of an infection can be detected early.