Management of Infection at the Site of a Total Knee Arthroplasty

While infection after total knee arthroplasty is a relatively infrequent complication (with a rate of 1% to 2%)1, it can be devastating in terms of patient morbidity and institutional expenses. It has been determined that the cost of treating an infection around a knee replacement results in an estimated net loss of approximately $15,000, and this loss may be doubled for a Medicare patient2,3. The drop in infection rates over the years secondary to improved prevention efforts4 is overshadowed by the dramatic increase in the number of joint replacements being done annually in North America. In an effort to optimize patient care and reduce the overall burden to the health-care system, physicians must continue to improve strategies for treating infection in the presence of prosthetic components. Such strategies should focus on establishing a rapid and accurate diagnosis and developing clear and effective treatment algorithms that yield favorable long-term results according to clearly defined criteria.