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Two-Stage Revision for Periprosthetic Joint Infection - Knee

intermediate Level

Primary Indication

Chronic periprosthetic joint infection TKA

Danger Structures

  • Sciatic nerve - 15-30mm posterior to hip joint depending on approach and position, injury causes foot drop and sensory loss - EXAM KEY: identify and protect, keep hip flexed to relax nerve
  • Femoral neurovascular bundle - 30-50mm medial to anterior hip joint, injury catastrophic - EXAM KEY: stay on bone with anterior retractors
  • Superior gluteal neurovascular bundle - 30-50mm proximal to greater trochanter, injury causes abductor weakness - EXAM KEY: avoid proximal dissection, stay in safe zone
  • Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve - variable position 20-50mm from anterior incisions, injury causes meralgia paresthetica - EXAM KEY: protect when visible
  • Medial femoral circumflex artery - main blood supply to femoral head, at risk during capsulotomy - EXAM KEY: careful dissection around posterior femoral neck

Visual Atlas

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Step-by-Step Technique

1

Stage 1 - Resection:: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
2

Extensile exposure if needed (quadriceps snip, TTO): EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
3

Remove all components and cement: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
4

Radical synovectomy: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
5

Multiple tissue cultures (5-6 specimens): EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
6

Pulse lavage extensively: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
7

Static or articulating antibiotic spacer: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
8

Articulating spacer preferred - maintains ROM and soft tissue tension: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
9

Handmade or commercial (PROSTALAC, etc.): EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
10

High-dose antibiotics in cement: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
11

IV antibiotics 6 weeks minimum: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
12

Monitor ESR/CRP: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
13

Stage 2 - Reimplantation:: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Malposition of hardware
  • Damage to adjacent structures
14

After antibiotic holiday and normalized markers: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
15

Joint aspiration if any doubt: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
16

Remove spacer, thorough debridement: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
17

Intraoperative frozen section: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures
18

Implant revision TKA components with stems: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Malposition of hardware
  • Damage to adjacent structures
19

Antibiotic cement fixation: EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.'

Surgeon's Tip
EXAM KEY: 'This step is critical for Unknown success - understand anatomical relationships and potential complications.
Danger Zone
  • Iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures