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Original Article

Perioperative factors associated with septic arthritis after arthroplasty

Prospective multicenter study of 362 knee and 2 651 hip operations

, , , &
Pages 665-671 | Accepted 16 Jun 1992, Published online: 24 Nov 2009
 

Abstract

Perioperative factors associated with late septic arthritis after knee and hip arthroplasties were prospectively investigated. All patients received a short course of perioperative cefuroxime. After a follow-up of 1 year, septic arthritis was diagnosed in 9/362 patients (2.5 percent) after knee arthroplasty and in 17/2651 patients (0.64 percent) after hip arthroplasty.

For the knee, factors associated with septic arthritis after arthroplasty were rheumatoid arthritis, wound infection, an unhealed wound, and a painful, limited knee function at discharge from the hospital.

For the hip, corresponding risk factors were diabetes, failed fracture osteosynthesis, a breakdown of sterility during operation, wound infection, postoperative urinary tract infection, and an unhealed wound at discharge from the hospital or a difficult rehabilitation course.

Reoperation after knee and hip arthroplasty was also clearly associated with a higher incidence of septic arthritis.

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