Comparison of Traditional Molded, First-Generation Premolded, and Second-Generation Premolded Antibiotic-Loaded Polymethylmethacrylate Articulating Spacers for Treatment of Chronic Prosthetic Joint Infection of the Knee

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare patients who had chronic prosthetic joint infection treated using three methods of articulating polymethylmethacrylate spacers in two-stage reimplantation.

Methods: We identified 77 patients who had chronic prosthetic joint infection with a minimum of one-year follow-up. Reinfection rates were determined using modified International Consensus group criteria.

Results: The overall reinfection rate was 18% (14 of 77 patients). Despite a higher medical comorbidity in the second-generation spacer cohort, there were no statistical differences in reinfection rates between articulating spacer types.

Conclusion: This study suggests that there were no differences in efficacy between the traditional molded, first-generation premolded, and second-generation premolded articulating spacers, but more studies with high level of evidence are needed.

Keywords: Infection; arthroplasty; articulating; knee; spacer.