Antibiotic-laden cement wrap: A simple but effective way of treating patients with megaprosthesis infection

Infection is one of the commonest causes for megaprosthesis failure. The current treatment includes antibiotics but no surgery, debridement, prosthesis removal and joint fusion, prosthesis revision or amputation. Success in controlling infection may be less than 50% in implant revision. The overall risk of amputation is more than 20%. We believe that repeated debridement with antibiotic-laden cement wrap (ALCW) may be a reliable alternative for managing the megaprosthesis infection. The purposes of this article are to identify whether ALCW is an effective way of eradicating the megaprosthesis infection, the associated complications and the functional outcome after management by ALCW.

This was a retrospective study of patients with megaprosthesis infection. From January 2014 to June 2016, there were five patients with tumour megaprosthesis infection who had undergone the ALCW procedure. Ages ranged from 17 to 59 years of age. Male to female ratio was 4:1. The patients studied had humeral (1), proximal femoral (1), distal femoral (1) and proximal tibial (2) prostheses. All patients had follow-ups more than 1 year (21-52 months) after treatment.

All patients recovered from their implant infection and the implants were retained in all patients. There was no sign of infection in the most recent follow-up. One patient died of osteosarcoma recurrence. One patient had a large block of cement causing plastic insert dislodgement in the shoulder joint 1 year after surgery. Another patient with a dislocated hip cup had revision carried out in the final debridement. The most recent Musculoskeletal Tumor society (MSTS) scores ranged from 21 to 30. All patients were satisfied with their treatment.

In this preliminary report of a small number of patients, ALCW has achieved 100% infection control. ALCW may be an easy and effective alternative for managing the megasprosthesis infection. The complications associated can be avoidable. The functional outcome is excellent.