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Vastus lateralis muscle flap for infected hips after resection arthroplasty

A J Suda1, V Heppert

  • 1Department Septic Surgery, Bone, Joint and Prostheses Infections, BG Trauma Centre, Ludwigshafen, Ludwig-Guttmann-Strasse 13, 67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany. arnold@drsuda.com

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume
|December 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A vastus lateralis muscle flap effectively controls chronic hip infections after resection arthroplasty. This procedure led to no recurrent infections and improved patient pain and quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Infectious Disease Management
  • Musculoskeletal Reconstruction

Background:

  • Chronic infections following hip resection arthroplasty present a significant challenge.
  • Persistent infection often originates from the acetabular cavity.
  • Previous surgical interventions may be numerous and unsuccessful.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of a vastus lateralis muscle flap in managing chronic hip infections post-resection arthroplasty.
  • To assess the impact of this reconstructive technique on infection recurrence, pain, and quality of life.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 119 patients (120 hips) with chronic infections after resection arthroplasty.
  • Vastus lateralis muscle flap reconstruction, with flap fixation using Mitek anchors in the acetabular cavity.
  • Mean follow-up period of 2.6 years.

Main Results:

  • No instances of recurrent infection were observed post-operatively.
  • All patients reported improvement in pain levels.
  • Significant enhancement in patients' overall quality of life was noted.

Conclusions:

  • The vastus lateralis muscle flap is a viable and effective method for controlling chronic hip infections after resection arthroplasty.
  • This surgical approach offers a solution for persistent infections originating from the acetabular cavity.
  • The procedure leads to favorable outcomes, including infection eradication, pain relief, and improved function.

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