Total knee replacement infection after 2-stage reimplantation: results of subsequent 2-stage reimplantation

Twelve patients who underwent salvage of an infected total knee replacement with removal, debridement, 6 weeks of parenteral antibiotics, and reimplantation subsequently acquired another infection in the same knee. These patients were again treated with the same protocol followed by reimplantation or arthrodesis and were observed for an average of 31 months. Nine of the patients underwent reimplantation surgery and 3 of the patients underwent arthrodesis. At followup the average Hospital for Special Surgery knee score for the reimplantation group was 84, the average Knee Society knee score was 79, and the average functional score was 73. The 3 patients who did not undergo reimplantation surgery had solid fusions in good position but were dissatisfied with their stiff limb. No knee to date has shown signs of recurrent infection.