Articulating antibiotic impregnated spacers in prosthetic joint infections: Where do we stand?

Abstract

Peri-prosthetic joint infection remains one of the most difficult and challenging complications following hip and knee arthroplasty for both patients and surgeons. Two-stage revision arthroplasty for infection remains the most popular option for the majority of patients and arguably the only option for some. The use antibiotic spacers and in particular articulating spacers has improved the quality of life for patients between stages. The spacers provides local delivery of high concentration antibiotics and provides many benefits to the soft tissues including maintaining soft tissue tension and range of movement. This benefit to the soft tissues also translates into reducing the difficulty and time spent doing the exposure during the second stage procedure. It is generally accepted that peri-prosthetic joint infection should be dealt with my specialist centers who deal with high volumes of patients with this diagnosis in a multidisciplinary approach.