Results of different surgical procedures on total knee arthroplasty infections

Seventy-six consecutive infected total knee arthroplasties in 74 patients were treated between December 1981 and March 1990. The average follow-up period was 57 months (range, 24-121 months). No patients were lost to follow-up evaluation and 12 patients died from unrelated causes. Patients were classified, based on the duration of their symptoms prior to treatment, as acutely infected (< 2 weeks) or chronically infected (> 2 weeks). All knees were evaluated following surgical treatment with radiographs and Knee Society knee score assessment. Successful eradication of infection was defined as a knee without clinical evidence of infection for a minimum of 2 years. The initial treatment modality was successful in eliminating the infection in 69 of 76 patients (90%). Infection was eventually eradicated in 72 of 76 (94%) patients. The individual clinical result was found to be more dependent on a patient's medical and musculoskeletal status (patient class A, B, C) than on knee score or radiographic assessment. Careful treatment selection based on patient class and duration of infection can result in a predictable and successful result.