Predictive Factors for Risk of Reinfection in Septic Two-Stage Revision of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties

The two-stage septic exchange is the most common therapy concept in the treatment of periprosthetic hip and knee infections. However, before the second-stage reimplantation can be carried out, the physician has to assess whether or not the eradication of the periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has been successful. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate possible predictive parameters for the successful treatment of PJI before and at the time of reimplantation.

This study investigated a total of 145 patients with periprosthetic hip infection and 93 patients with periprosthetic knee infection, who all underwent a two-stage septic exchange between 2017 and 2021. In order to identify possible risk factors for reinfections, the patients underwent preoperative examination of serological inflammatory parameters, microbiological and histological examination of the periprosthetic membrane at the time of reimplantation, as well as postoperative evaluations at regular intervals for a period of at least 24 months.

During the follow-up period, reinfection occurred in 11.3% of cases after the two-stage septic revision. None of the serological, microbiological, or histological parameters were able to significantly predict the risk of reinfection. Risk factors associated with reinfection were BMI and previous revision surgery.

Currently, there is no reliable predictive factor indicating the risk of reinfection at the time of reimplantation. New diagnostic methods need to be developed to evaluate the possibility and timing of endoprosthesis reimplantation.