Joint replacement in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are at risk for bacterial and opportunistic infections with worsening immunosuppression.

From June 2000 to January 2009, six patients who were diagnosed with HIV infection underwent 10 joint replacement procedures, including six total hip arthroplasties, two total knee arthroplasties, and one shoulder hemiarthroplasty. An ordinary dose of postsurgical-empirical antibiotics was prescribed, with an average follow-up period of 38.6 months. All prostheses of total knee arthroplasty and shoulder hemiarthroplasty were fixed with vancomycin-impregnated bone cement.

The rate of postoperative infection for HIV infected patients is supposed to be higher than for HIV negative patients. However, in our institution, there have been no HIV- positive patients who have suffered postoperative infection.

HIV-positive patients can have excellent outcomes after undergoing various arthroplastic surgeries. This revelation, coupled with the advances in antiviral therapy that have helped to lengthen HIV patient lifespans, strongly suggests that these patients should receive arthroplastic surgery.