Mental Health Must Become Central in Periprosthetic Joint Infection Care

Current management of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has traditionally focused on infection eradication and implant survivorship. However, emerging evidence demonstrates that PJI is associated with a substantial psychological burden and long-term impairment in quality of life. Despite the profound psychosocial effects associated with prolonged treatment and increasing evidence that these effects impact a major percentage of patients, mental health considerations remain largely absent from standard PJI treatment algorithms, since they often ignore depression, anxiety, social isolation, and psychological distress. This disparity draws attention to a critical difference between the patient's perception of their recovery and the surgeon's definition of success. This commentary examines the limitations of existing definitions of treatment success and advocates for integration of routine mental health screening and multidisciplinary care into PJI management pathways. Recognition of psychological recovery as a fundamental component of treatment success may improve patient-centered outcomes, optimize recovery trajectories, and better align orthopaedic practice with modern value-based care models.