[Unusual infection complication of total hip arthroplasty]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Microbiology

Background:

• Deep infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA) presents significant management challenges.
• Recurrent THA reimplantation increases the risk of persistent or deep-seated infections.
• Rare pathogens like Serratia marcescens require specific diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Observation:

• A 66-year-old patient developed a deep infection post-THA reimplantation, caused by Serratia marcescens.
• The infection was associated with a pyogenic sinus, complicating the clinical presentation.
• The patient underwent repeated reimplantations of the total hip replacement.

Findings:

• Surgical revision with radical debridement of necrotic tissue and hardware removal is critical.
• Intensive parenteral antibiotic administration is essential for eradicating the infection.
• Successful management focused on infection salvage and limb function preservation.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of identifying rare etiological agents in infected THA.
• Aggressive surgical and antibiotic strategies are necessary for favorable outcomes in complex cases.
• Preserving limb function is the primary goal in managing infected total hip arthroplasty.