TREATMENT OF INFECTED KNEE ENDOPROSTHESIS

Abstract

Background. Infection of knee prosthesis is a serious complication both for the patient and the surgeon. The rate of infected knee prostheses is 2 per cent, and is slightly higher than that of hip prostheses. Early and correct diagnosis and proper treatment are essential to a successful management of infected knee prostheses. The choise of treatment modality depends on the associated diseases, causative agent, and on whether the infection is caused by one or several pathogens.Conclusions. In addition to vigorous antibiotic therapy, based on antimicrobial sensitivity tests, replacement of the infected prosthesis, done as a one or two stage procedure, is required in nearly all cases. The rate of successfully treated infections is approximately 90 per cent.

Keywords

• knee endoprosthesis
• infection
• dyagnosis
• therapy
• cases report