Abstract
Two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty remains the gold standard for management of chronic periprosthetic joint infection in North America. Static cement antibiotic spacers used after knee resection to deliver high-dose antibiotics lack primary stability, potentially leading to spacer migration or dislocation, additional bone loss, extensor mechanism erosion, and even knee subluxation or frank dislocation. A custom brace or cast is often required to augment knee stability, which is time-consuming, costly, and prevents monitoring or wound care of the soft tissues. An external fixator arthrodesis antibiotic spacer can provide primary stability without a brace or cast, allowing for soft-tissue monitoring and care, and minimizes potential spacer complications. We present the technique for implanting and removing this specific external fixator arthrodesis antibiotic spacer.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 309-313 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Arthroplasty Today |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2019 |
Keywords
- Antibiotic spacer
- Infection
- Periprosthetic joint infection
- Static spacer
- Total knee arthroplasty
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine