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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:

2

Extensile exposure if needed (quadriceps snip, TTO)

3

Remove all components and cement

4

Radical synovectomy

5

Multiple tissue cultures (5-6 specimens)

6

Pulse lavage extensively

7

Static or articulating antibiotic spacer

8

Articulating spacer preferred - maintains ROM and soft tissue tension

9

Handmade or commercial (PROSTALAC, etc.)

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High-dose antibiotics in cement

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IV antibiotics 6 weeks minimum

12

Monitor ESR/CRP

13

Stage 2 - Reimplantation:

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After antibiotic holiday and normalized markers

15

Joint aspiration if any doubt

16

Remove spacer, thorough debridement

17

Intraoperative frozen section

18

Implant revision TKA components with stems

19

Antibiotic cement fixation