Exchange arthroplasty for infection. Perspectives from the United Kingdom

A number of factors are considered with a bearing on outcome assessment and survivorship analysis. The results achieved in more than 440 exchange arthroplasties are discussed. Despite the apparent threefold increased risk of recurred infection associated with a one-stage approach, this statistic is an oversimplification of the many complex factors involved in the analysis of these results and in the decision between a one- and a two-stage approach to treatment, when presented with an infected hip replacement. The authors think that a one-stage approach remains a reasonable alternative, given certain prerequisites.