Total Arthroplasty and the Veterans Administration--Symposium: Total

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Hip Arthroplasty: Infections at the Site of a Hip Implant Successful and Unsuccessful Management. Collins-David-N. McKenzie-James-M. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 1991 Aug. 269. pp 9-15. Thirty-four patients developed the complication of deep infection at the site of a hip implant (n = 35). Multiple factors in existence at the time ofimplant placement and the time of presentation with infection as well as the therapeutic regimen were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with successful outcomes (n=15) were relatively younger (mean, 52 years) compared to those that had an unsuccessful outcome (n=19; mean, 65 years; p < 0.01). No other factors were predictive of the outcome of treatment. Implant extirpation, expedient wound closure, and, when necessary, muscle transposition favored a successful outcome. Implant retention and open wound packing resulted in prolonged wound healing and, sometimes, hip disarticulation or death.