Two-Stage Reimplantation for the Salvage of Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty

The results of eleven two-stage reimplantations to salvage eleven infected total knee arthroplasties in ten women (seven with osteoarthritis and three with rheumatoid arthritis) were evaluated after an average follow-up of thirty-four months. The staged procedures included removal of all of the components of the prosthesis and all cement, then six weeks of parenteral antibiotic therapy (monitored by maintaining serum bactericidal levels at a peak dilution of 1:8), and finally reimplantation with a total condylar-type prosthesis. All antibiotics were discontinued after reimplantation.