A guide to debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention

Debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) is an alternative management strategy for the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). While infection eradication rates are lower with DAIR, the benefits including decreased morbidity, improved functional outcomes, and decreased cost may justify the risks when considering this form of treatment compared to traditional one or two stage exchange arthroplasty. Implant longevity in the setting of a successful DAIR is similar to matched patients who have not experienced a PJI. An experienced arthroplasty surgeon well versed in extensile exposure should perform the DAIR. This procedure should not be viewed as a simple "washout." While PJI may be considered a surgical urgency, DAIR can be performed on a planned list if it allows for appropriate staffing and implants for the procedure. Arthroscopic irrigation may be performed for a patient in extremis but it should not be viewed as a definitive procedure to address PJI. Keys to a successful DAIR include accurate tissue sampling to determine the infective organism, meticulous, radical debridement, and exchange of modular components if possible. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) including an infectious disease specialist should be involved prior to surgery in order to guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy throughout the patient's course of treatment. In the article below we present our indications, considerations, and technique for performing a DAIR for PJI for hip and knee arthroplasty.