Treatment of the Infected Hip Replacement

Abstract

Selection of the suitable treatment method for an infected hip arthroplasty requires careful assessment of patient-related variables and expected treatment goals. The basic treatment options include antibiotic suppression, open debridement, resection arthroplasty, arthrodesis, reimplantation of another prosthesis, and amputation. Successful treatment of infection requires complete debridement of all infected and foreign material and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. When possible, the preferred treatment approach is insertion of another prosthesis with a delayed reconstructive treatment technique. Patients now are presenting with an increasing incidence of resistant organisms and severe bone loss, which increases the difficulty of treatment.