Multiple irrigation, debridement, and retention of components in infected total knee arthroplasty

The results of 24 infected total knee arthroplasties (22 patients) that were treated by irrigation, debridement, and retention of the prosthetic components were prospectively studied. Strict criteria were used for the selection of this method of treatment. Patients had to be less than 30 days after index arthroplasty (postsurgical group) or had to have less than 30 days of knee symptoms (hematogenous group). In addition, there had to be no radiographic signs of osteitis or evidence of a loose prosthetic component. Patients had one to three irrigation and debridement procedures depending on systemic signs, knee symptoms, or the results of knee aspirations. All of the immediate postsurgical infections (10 knees) and 10 of the 14 (71%) late hematogenously infected knees retained the prosthesis without further evidence of infection at the final follow-up visit at 48 months (range, 24-140 months). This study shows that in selected circumstances, irrigation, debridement, and retention of the components can result in low morbidity with high success rates.