[Prognosis of hip endoprostheses after disorders of wound healing]

41 draining sinuses after THR were treated by debridement without exchanging the implants. Positive bacterial cultures were obtained in 23 patients-the ilio tibial tract was found open in 19 cases (82%). The bacterial cultures were negative in 18 patients-the ilio tibial tract was found open in 7 cases (38%). Revisions took place 21 days (9-43) after primary implantation. At the time of the follow up (0 72 months postoperatively) 7 patients had been revised (8-97) because of recurrence of infection. The results of debridements of contaminated sinuses depend on the ilio tibial tract. Revisions were successful in three out of four paces with an intact, and only in eight out of nineteen cases with an open ilio tibial tract. Besides proper bacterial investigation preoperative sinograms give useful information about the prognosis of revision. In cases with positive bacterial cultures debridements should be done very early to eradicate infection without removing the implants.