Early onset prosthetic hip and knee joint infection: treatment and outcomes in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a devastating complication of arthroplasty. There are no internationally endorsed consensus management guidelines and treatment approaches differ widely. AIM: The aim of this multicentre study was to examine treatment approaches and predictors of treatment failure in patients with early PJI managed in hospitals in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: This cohort study was conducted across 10 hospitals over a three-year period (January 2006 to December 2008) and involved 147 patients who presented with early PJI. FINDINGS: Most patients (76%) were managed with debridement and retention of the prosthesis. Patients were followed for a median 20 mont..