[Total knee arthroplasty infection, what is the best strategy for better functional outcomes?]

Surgical strategy in dealing with periprosthetic knee infections remains controversial. The goals of treatment are to eradicate infection, improve pain and joint function. Surgical management includes implant debridement and retention, prosthetic replacement in one-time, or two-stage replacement. This latest surgical strategy is considered the «gold standard», reaching healing rates up to 80%-100%, although little has been published about functional results.

Retrospective study of 65 patients with periprosthetic knee infection. In 20 patients a replacement was made in a time and in 45 patients were in two stages. Pre- and post-operative evaluation with the modified HSS scale. All patients were treated with intravenous antibiotherapy, we evaluated the analytical and clinical response to confirm the eradication or not of the infection.

The infection was resolved in 39 out of 65 patients, 12 in the replacement group in a time and 27 for the two-stages group. No significant difference between the groups in relation to healing or functional result. However, there is a statistically significant difference between those patients who received oral antibiotic treatment prior to diagnosis and those who did not.

The healing rate is similarly treated with replacement in a time and replacement in two times. We were unable to demonstrate superiority in the functional results between the two groups.