Mid and long term two-step revision outcomes of patients with infected total knee arthroplasty

Instruduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the middle-long term outcomes of patiens who underwent two-step revision for infected total knee arthroplasty at Çukurova University Orthopaedics and Travmatology Department between March 2000 ?December 2005. Materials and Methods: 27 patients were included in this study. The cases were evaluated retrospectively with their last physical examinations in the follow up. Twostep revision arthroplasty were performed to 22, and arthrodesis after the first step to the remaining 5 patients due to their preferences. Physical examination, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, c-reactive protein level, white-blood cell count, scintigraphy, aspiration and culture results were evaluated for the diagnosis of infection. Laboratory parameters were also used for following-up the infection. Patients were evaluated according to the American Knee Society?s clinical and functional scoring system Results: The mean age was 66,09. Twenty-one patients were male and six were female. Three of 27 patients had early infection, 17 had delayed infection and seven had late infection. Mean follow-up was 55,5 months in two-step revison group and 43,8 months in arthrodesis group. Clinical and functional scores raised up from 36.59 and 38,86 to 72,55 and 65,91 respectively. Mean flexion degree raised up from 38,96° to 101,82° postoperatively, and mean flexion contracture degree regressed from 2,95°, to 0,91° postoperatively. Pain was decreased postoperatively and walking ranges were extended after revision in all cases. We compared our outcomes with the published studies. Discussion: Eventually, our outcomes were the similar with the literature in terms of eradication of infection, radiological evaluation, clinical scores and functional scores for middle-long term follow-up period. Better results may be achieved by optimized processes and systematic approach