Vancomycin Povidone-Iodine Protocol Improves Survivorship of Periprosthetic Joint Infection Treated With Irrigation and Debridement

Irrigation and debridement with modular component and liner exchange (IDLE) is a low morbidity procedure for treatment of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) with reported failure rates exceeding 50%. Dilute povidone-iodine lavage has been shown to be safe and effective in decreasing acute PJI in primary total joint arthroplasty. Vancomycin powder has also shown to be effective in preventing infection in spine surgery. We hypothesize that a vancomycin povidone-iodine protocol (VIP) used in conjunction with IDLE can increase infection-free survivorship after acute PJI.

This is a single institution retrospective review of all PJIs treated with IDLE and VIP since March 2014. A consecutive matched control group of patients treated with IDLE for PJI for 2 years prior to March 2014 was also included for analysis. Primary outcome was failure, defined as return to operating room for an infection-related problem. Secondary outcome was chronic suppression with antibiotics at final follow-up. Minimum follow-up was 1 year.

A total of 36 patients in the VIP group and 38 patients in control group were identified. In the VIP group, 16.7% (6/36) failed at final follow-up compared to 37% failure rate (14/38) in the control group (P < .05). Three patients in the VIP group were on chronic antibiotic suppression at final follow-up. There were no medical complications secondary to the VIP.

The VIP group demonstrated a significant reduction in reinfection and failure rate following IDLE. The authors believe that a VIP is an effective adjunct for treating PJI with irrigation and debridement.