[Clinical experience of treating infection after total hip arthroplasty]

To present the experience in the management of the infected total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Forty-three cases (44 hips) of infection after THA were reviewed. Eighteen women and 25 men with a mean age of 54 years (range, 24-81 years) were studied. Follow-up ranged from 5 months to 16 years (mean, 3.2 years). Treatment strategies included: one-stage revision (n = 7), two-stage revision (n = 15), resection arthroplasty (n = 13), debridement and retain prosthesis (n = 5), and others (n = 3).

Forty cases had positive culture result with 59 organisms including 19 staphylococcus epidermidis and 10 staphylococcus aureus. Thirty-six cases had been followed up, and no case had infection recurrence. Twenty-nine cases had postoperative Harris hip score averaged 78.5 (45-98).

The diagnosis and treatment of infection after hip replacement is very difficult. The violence and antibiotic resistant rate of the organisms is high. Two-stage reconstruction of the infected hip is useful and effective because of higher eradication rate of the infection and good postoperative functional result.